Once more the miracles of spring invade
my
conscience.The lingering snow that
marked the winds of March this year have given way to green meadows here in our
valley and the lilting chorus of birdsong to those with a listening ear.As
I write this, from the north I can hear a
mockingbird singing her heart out, and from the south the plaintiff cooing of a
dove, evidence of life rejoicing with me that winter is merging into
spring.Crocus, narcissus, and daffodil
blossoms outside my window once more repeat the Resurrection message.And once
again this season of Lent bids me
ponder the brevity of life, the swift passing of the seasons and the
realization that I have been granted an extension of time to continue running
the race. The Easter message reminds me that whatever goals I have not obtained
before my terminus here shall await me in the kingdom to come when deadlines
and urgencies will be no longer...blessed everlasting life!
On my bedside table these days is Oh Jerusalem,
by Larry Collins and
Dominick Lapierre, a book that was a best seller back in the 1980s.It chronicles
the spellbinding events of the
birth of modern Israel in 1948 when war broke out between the Arabs and Jews. A
United Nations’ tribunal proclaimed a partition to the real estate which was
then Palestine, acknowledging the embryonic state of modern Israel. The book
chronicles the intense hatred of the Arabs and Jews persisting to this day when
Israel finds itself a pon on the chessboard of world affairs. It is exhibit
number one of why the existence
of Israel is the focus in most of the world’s capitols of midnight diplomatic
deliberations for peace.In these days
of Lent, both Christians and Jews observe the Passover and all that it means
for eternal salvation.
Jan Willem van der Hoeven
wrote: “Just as there is no
need to change or rewrite the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) in those places
where it is not exactly complimentary to the Jewish people because of their
constant failure to respond to their God lest people would take these negative
verses about the Jews as an excuse for antisemitism – in the same way there is
no need for the New Testament to be changed or expunged of its negative,
seemingly antisemitic passages.The
overall message of both the Old Testament and the New Testament is clear. God
never has and never will forsake the people He has called. No! Rather, He plans
to bring them through all their negative experiences to a glorious end.Those
who oppose Israel’s fight for existence are simply unaware of Scripture’s
truths. Condemning Israel is wrong because the writers of Scripture were
themselves Jews.All mankind is
condemned because all are sinners, and Jesus, Himself a Jew, died for the
salvation of all.Paul to the
Corinthians:“But we speak the wisdom of
God in a mystery, the
hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of
the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified
the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor
have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those
who love Him.”
Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God.”