The Gates are Burned with Fire

Grievous news falls upon us when we least expect it. This was true also for Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Upon the return of his brother, Hanani, from Judah, Nehemiah was quick to inquire about his beloved city of Jerusalem. Surely he waited with bated breath for a hopeful answer. But instead, he was met with news that brought him to his face before the Lord. “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire” (Neh. 1:3, NKJV).

Nehemiah “wept, and mourned for many days … fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Neh. 1:4, NKJV). His city was defenseless and put to open shame by surrounding nations. He wanted desperately to rebuild the walls which would once again fortify and protect it. Thankfully, by the favor of the Lord, Nehemiah was granted the opportunity by King Artaxerxes to do exactly that. With the help of the people in Jerusalem, Nehemiah completed his task in record time.

“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that our God did this work” (Neh. 6:15-16, NKJV).

“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that our God did this work” (Neh. 6:15-16, NKJV)

A Modern-Day Nehemiah Story

On June 7, grievous news also fell upon the ears of the pro-life community. CompassCare, a PreBorn! Partner Clinic located in Buffalo, New York, had been attacked. Fires blazed in the nurses’ office and the reception room. Broken windows left shattered glass strewn across the ground. Graffiti marred the building with the words, “Jane was here,” referring to the pro-abortion terrorist organization, Jane’s Revenge.

In the aftermath of the attack, CompassCare was left destroyed. No longer would they be able to serve and protect women and families in the Buffalo area. All equipment had been destroyed, excluding three brand-new ultrasound machines from PreBorn! that arrived exactly one month later. Hope remained.

Like the people of Jerusalem, the Church in Buffalo came together with a mind to work. They would rebuild the walls of CompassCare and once again display the glory of God through the free services offered to the community, which included baseline medical care, OB care, STD testing and treatment, and abortion pill reversals to women seriously considering abortion. Miraculously, in just 52 days, the same amount of time it took Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, CompassCare reopened.

The Nations See the Work of God

Not only was CompassCare reopened, but during the groundbreaking ceremony it was announced that the Medical Office’s square footage was to be increased by 30%, enabling more women considering abortion to receive life-saving care and hear the gospel message. Surely the nations rising up in violence against Pregnancy Clinics would be “disheartened in their own eyes; for they (would) perceive that our God did this work” (Neh. 6:15-16, NKJV).

Rev. Jim Harden, founder and CEO of CompassCare, sent a message of his own to Jane’s Revenge during a press conference held in conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony. As Christians, we do not take revenge, either let Jesus pay for your sin by joining us in submission at the foot of the cross or pay for your sins yourself forever. I implore you, come out of the darkness and confess before it is too late.”

The conference was attended by church leaders and elected officials from local, state, and federal levels. Included in attendance was Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22), who used the time to introduce federal legislation that will increase penalties for violence against churches and pro-life organizations. This proposed legislation, which stands in stark contrast to the opinions voiced by other elected officials such as Michigan Gov. Whitmer, will soon be going before the Senate for consideration.

Miraculously, in just 52 days, the same amount of time it took Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, CompassCare reopened.

Tested by Fire

The spiritual fires of adversity and the physical fires of violence have flashed forth against CompassCare and other pro-life organizations across the nation. What they have accomplished, however, has not been the chaos and destruction so many who stand in opposition have sought. Instead, the mighty hand of God and His clear anointing has been made known.

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Cor. 3:13, NKJV).

We are grateful for the life-saving work that CompassCare has performed, and we praise God for bringing beauty from the ashes of destruction. May their story be a reminder to us all of the mighty works of God and the preservation that He ensures of His purposes.

Sources