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I don’t know the condition of your life today. Maybe it is in ruins due to different reasons. Your life might have been destroyed by certain circumstances that befell you. You feel like there is no longer any hope. Good News: Your life can be re-built so it can flourish again. Such happened to the remnant that dwelt in the city of Jerusalem where the walls and its gates had been destroyed.

So Eliashib the high priest came forward, along with his fellow priests, and reconstructed the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and installed its doors. They also consecrated the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. (Nehemiah 3:1).

The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the people of God were in shame. They were under reproach. Their enemies were laughing at them because of their situation. I do not know what is happening with you. But after Nehemiah received a report and prayed about the situation, he went and assessed the situation. He then agreed with his people and the priests to start rebuilding the walls. Do you know what they started with? They started with the gates.

What do gates mean?

Gates in scripture are used as the symbolic expression and demonstration of power and authority. Gates of hell represent the powers, authorities and works of the kingdom of darkness (Matthew 16:18). Gates of righteousness are the glorious works of righteousness, which the Church does as it lives in the Name of Jesus (Psalm 118:19; 87:2; Ephesians 2:10).

Starting with the Sheep Gate

Nehemiah started with the Sheep Gate when restoring the walls and gates of Jerusalem. That was very important. Why the Sheep Gate? Sheep was the kind of animal accepted for a sacrifice. A sheep had a meek nature. It was self-giving, calm and had a friendly. It followed the leading of a shepherd trustingly and unreservedly. Through that gate, sheep were brought in but not for consumption. Instead they came through it for sacrifice.

They started with this gate helping us to know that in order to experience the glory of God in our lives; we must come to God as sheep for His pasture. We are the sheep of His pasture. God is the great shepherd of His sheep. David knew what it meant to be a sheep of God because he was once a shepherd of his father’s sheep.

A Davidic Psalm. The LORD is the one who is shepherding me; I lack nothing.

He causes me to lie down in pastures of green grass; he guides me beside quiet waters. (Psalm 23:1-2).

If you want your life to be rebuilt or restored, you need to bring yourself to God as a sheep. Why? He knows you better. He knows your situation and needs. You need to surrender to Him first so that He can direct and lead you.

I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship. (Romans 12:1).

Offer yourself to God. Stop being your own leader in life. But allow God to lead you. He will lead you to the right pastures. A shepherd used to go before the sheep in Israel. So the shepherd led them to the right direction. If there was an enemy ahead, he was the first to meet it. The sheep were under protection. God wants to protect you from the harm of the devil. But you need to allow Him to do so.

In rebuilding your life from ruins, start by building the Sheep Gate. This will enable you to bring yourself as a living sacrifice to God. You have to fully trust in Him unreservedly. He will be your Shepherd and lead you to the right direction. You will find the pastures you need. You will avoid having to deal with enemies unprepared. He loves you very much. He cares about you.

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