“Why go to Israel?” “Aren’t you afraid?” “You wouldn’t catch me dead over there.” “This isn’t a good time to go over there.” These are only an assortment of questions and statements I heard in the days leading up to our trip.
Why did we go? Because Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He is the most important person in my life and will be for all eternity. He died and rose again for me, and my heart and life is enriched by being in the place where He ministered, suffered, was rejected, crucified, buried and rose again for me and the whole world!
Why go to Israel? God’s Word is the most important book in my life. His Word is forever alive (Isaiah 40:6-8; Hebrews 4:12), but it becomes 3-D when you have an opportunity to visit Capernaum, ride a boat on the Sea of Galilee, visit the Garden of Gethsemane, sing “Jesus Paid It All” in the prison where He was scourged, stand at the Garden Tomb, and walk the Mt. of Olives where Jesus will return at His Second Coming (Acts 1:9-11).
My second Holy Land visit this month occurred last Thursday through Saturday as men from our church joined 600 plus other men in Roanoke, VA, for the annual Men’s Prayer Advance (christlifemin.org). What an absolute thrill to unite with these men in genuine heart-felt singing; multiple opportunities for passionate, honest prayer; listening to soul-stirring, Holy Spirit convicting preaching; and watch God at work in changing lives for His glory!!
Israel and Men’s Prayer Advance, two trips to what I’ll call the Holy Land because these were days set apart to meet with our Lord, to know Him better, to hear His voice, to walk in His will, and to gather at His Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Oh, by the way, I’ll be walking in the Holy Land today, too, because everywhere I go, Christ is there. He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrew 13:5-6); He dwells within me (Colossians 1:27).
From A Pastor's Heart 