Still Uncertain
 There is quite a bit of news that is of interest, but like I have written before, the Middle East usually tends to dominate the news these days-and for good reason. The future of the world really hinges on what happens in the Middle East since it is the epicenter of our world. The Bible has so much to say about what is happening in our world right now, and it is well worth your time to explore what it says will be happening in the days to come. Specifically this would be after Israel was restored to being a nation-which of course was in 1948.
The nation of Israel is very interesting. It's history is well documented in the Bible and it's future is also documented for those who wish to get a glimpse of what is coming. Even if you have no interest in Israel's history or future, you need to understand that this region of the world will be at the center of unbelievable events yet to happen. The Bible said that Israel would become a nation again with these words:"I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. (Amos 9:14-15)." As we well know, this has happened and continues to happen now.
The Bible also has this to say about what this return will mean:"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it" (Zech. 12:3). This creates an interesting picture for us as we evaluate current events. Israel is surrounded by hostile countries and is slowly becoming even more isolated with each passing year. It looks as if the whole world will soon be against it. All we seem to hear is news about peace talks, but in reality the region is gearing up toward what looks like another large war. Jerusalem is at the center of all this as was predicted. It seems that the decision over who has the rights to claim and own this one city means peace or war.
There is so much more that can be discussed in regard to what is ahead, and I hope that you have enough curiosity to wonder what this all means for our near future. Please search the Bible for yourself and find out more about this unfolding story that is nearing completion. The nation of Israel isn't just a boring history lesson, it is really the timeline and timepiece of a greater story. This greater story of God is ultimately what we are all searching for. Contrary to what many understand, this life does have meaning and purpose in light of God's story. Just as our current world began long ago, it will also meet it's end. We live in the middle. Do you get it? This life isn't just a meaningless exercise in living, it is an intricate part of a large story that has an ending. The ending of our current world will lead to an even greater beginning for those who trust Jesus. As I have said before, the entire story can be found in the Bible if you care to understand it for yourself.
Ultimately this is why I have hope. The world continually gets worse and more difficult to make a living in, but this isn't the end of the story. The real story of real life is yet to come if we embrace the hope Jesus offers. He gave His life so that we could actually have life that never ends. If we believe this and trust Him we have real hope. At some point in life everyone has to ask the question-is there any real hope, or is life just meaningless? If you are asking this question, search the Bible and read about the life of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There you will find your answer.
As I stated above, the Middle East is at a critical time in history. We will all be affected by what is happening there. You can be sure that the news will only become more and more centered on the road-map for peace, and the imminent wars that seem to be looming there. Even in recent days there have been some significant escalations toward a regional war. The Debkafile reports this regarding the recent clash on the border:"Israel has given Lebanon an ultimatum to dismiss or court-martial the local commander guilty of ordering the sniper fire which killed Lt. Col. Dov Harari and triggered a major clash Tuesday, Aug. 3, debkafile reports. If Beirut's refuses to comply, Israel will deem the Lebanese army an enemy force and destroy its border positions. Both armies are on standby as tensions continue to simmer, with the next peak due Monday, Aug. 9, when Hizballah leader tries to pass the buck for the Hariri murder to… Israel." Read the article here.
Keep paying attention, things can change very quickly in the Middle East. |
