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Have you ever felt at home somewhere, but you aren’t from there?
I have felt this having lived in many cities and towns in my life thus far. One particular city I can say, though I wasn’t born there and I don’t live there, yet I’m from there is Rapid City, South Dakota, where I spend a small portion of each year visiting relatives.
It’s on the western side of the state in an area called the Black Hills or Paha Sapa in the Lakota language because of the way the dark green pine trees shade the hills black from a distance. Rapid City sits among these hills, where its landscape reminds me of another city of great renown in the world and especially in the Bible—the city of Jerusalem.
I also have that feeling for Jerusalem. My parents spent one summer of their college years working on the Temple Mount archaeological dig. Through the course of their stay, they got to know one another better, eventually leading to their marriage. So part of my family history stems from that city.
In the larger perspective of human history, many turning points past and present gravitate around Jerusalem. The name itself means peace, but the city has rarely seen sustained tranquility.
In the prophecy of Zechariah it is referred to as a “cup of trembling” (chapter 12:2, King James Version). Over the centuries it has trembled again and again with the rage of war. From ancient times, Jerusalem has been controlled by many masters. After King David of Israel captured it from the Jebusites, it was besieged by the Assyrians and destroyed by the Babylonians. In the crusades of the Middle Ages Catholic Christians and Muslims fought over religious domination in its region. Even in the 20th century it played a crucial part in both World Wars.
Despite overtures of peace in the Middle East that seem to flood the news, true peace is still far from Jerusalem. In the past few days a member of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s administration has suggested the possibility of returning large portions of the city—taken during a battle with a coalition of Arab nations during the Six Day War in 1967—to the Palestinian government. Partitioning Jerusalem has long been a bone of contention among Jews and Arabs. In spite of a variety of well-developed arguments for and against partitioning, the reality is that it will open the area to increasing instability with more violence rather than less.
In the Bible men like Zechariah and Daniel prophesied about the events at the end of the current age of human history. Jerusalem is in the midst of those events, and every step on that stage right now leads to a time of world-engulfing conflict, astounding miracles and religious posturing, placing the fate of this city and of the world on a narrow precipice of survival. Read “Jerusalem: Center of Conflict, Center of Peace” to learn even more of this incredible time and place.
Thankfully, this short period of crisis will be followed by the glorious restoration of Jerusalem, which will bring the reality of true, lasting peace and abundance on a mind-blowing scale. At that point I want to be able to say: I wasn’t born there, but now I live there, and I’m definitely from there! VT
- About the Author -
Amanda Stiver edits “In the News” for the print version of Vertical Thought and works as a freelance writer near Columbus, Ohio.
One of the most enjoyable occasions I can remember for a long time was attending the recent wedding of a good friend. Hundreds of friends and family came together to celebrate; we ate, drank, danced, talked and laughed for hours.
Yet, among us all, none showed more sheer joy than the new bride and groom. It seemed that happiness was just flowing out of them. They were thrilled to see each person who came to celebrate, but much more than that: They were absolutely delighted with each other!
There is a statement in the Bible that connects the happiness of a bride and groom on their wedding day with God in a way that may seem surprising to many. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, “…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (chapter 62:5).
Really?! We’re talking about the God who does not tolerate sin, who gave the Ten Commandments with all its “thou shalt nots.” Could He be THAT happy about you or about me?
Yes, it’s true. The Great Creator and Ruler of the universe wants to spend time with us. He will be so happy to be with us that He says it will make Him as happy as a bride and groom are at their wedding—and that is very, very happy!
If you’re like me, you don’t go to weddings all that often, so this analogy may not immediately mean a lot to you. If so, then think about whatever good activity you really like doing. It could be playing tennis, hanging out with fine friends, listening to music or whatever.
Volunteering at our church’s United Youth Camps program each year is one of my favorite things to do. As a counselor I sometimes ask the teens what they really like about camp. Their answers range from playing sports, to meeting members of the opposite sex, to experiencing the beauty of the outdoors. At that point I remind them that camp purposely includes all those things—along with a number of camp rules that they don’t always love. Rules and restrictions help us to do things God’s way, but it is worth remembering that the fun activities are just as much a part of living God’s way.
Imagine: God really wants boys to get together and play basketball. He doesn’t just tolerate it. He probably even likes to watch! God’s law sets definite boundaries for conduct between the sexes, but He certainly wants teenage guys and girls to meet and spend time together. In fact, He wants all of us to eventually experience that joy of a bride and groom mentioned above.
This does not mean that we should just do whatever feels good and not worry about obeying the law. The point is that God made the things that are within His law of love that feel good too. The same One who puts some things off limits is also the One who created every happy experience. And like a bride and groom, He can’t wait for the celebration to begin!
Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth to bring true peace and happiness for 1,000 years and more. To learn more about that time of celebration, read What Will the Kingdom of God Mean for You? VT
- About the Author -
Frank Dunkle is an avid United Youth Camps volunteer. He and his wife, Sue, live in Columbus, Ohio, where he works for the Ohio Humanities Council as a historian.
