Waking up in the Holy Land each day is an absolute privilege. As I write, the birds are singing their happy songs right outside my ope window. The sun is shining in these vast, cloudless skies. The streets merely whisper the hum drum of vehicles and passerbys.
I spent the past 11 days on a tour around this ancient, breathtaking land. My brother and I now treasure the unforgettable experience of traipsing across the land flowing with milk and honey (and stray cats...;) ). This land - where the men and women of old experienced the power and presence of God so much so that it changed history forever... (and just maybe your very life as well).
Jesus Christ Himself, the God-Man, the One of whom the Prophets foretold, the One who breathed life and insight into those very Prophets, that One walked around here. He spoke His beautiful, paradoxical, captivating words here. He was sentenced to death here. He was crucified and buried here. Just a few miles from where I write these words, the loud scraping sound of that massive round stone could have been heard on the glorious morning His earthly lungs carried breath again. He rose from the grave here, in this exact city. And He will return to this place, to rule and reign, and ultimately recreate.
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind." Isaiah 65:17
"Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." Hebrews 11:10
"Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire." Hebrews 12:28-29
Ready or not, the Kingdom is coming. Behold, the Kingdom of God is in our midst! (Luke 17:21). Yes, even now. Do you believe this? Do I?
It is an incomparable honor to be in the land whose stones tell the stories that we anchor our eternity to. I do not want to grow numb to the reality of it all. The wonder and miracle of life and love. He is waking me up and opening my eyes. I am eager to seek Him more than I ever have before.
During my time in the land YHWH call's the apple of His eye, it is my prayer that my heart would continue to learn and imitate the rhythm of my Father's. That my eyes would be opened to realities previously unknown and unsought. That I would love the person in front of me with the uncommon love of Christ. That I would tell stories of His majesty in the midst of the chaos and tension.
He is on the move, my friends. I can see the the flowers blooming.
“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
-C.S. Lewis