Lessons From Israel - Part 3
During our time at the Sea of Galilee (also called, Lake Tiberias), we spent one of our days traveling through the “north country” visiting the ruins of a number of cities that are mentioned in the Bible. It was quite a day as we visited places, some of which were 3,000-4,000 years old.
The day included a hike at the Dan Nature Reserve which led us, not only along one of the main tributaries to the Jordan River, but to one of the “high places’ built by Jeroboam. It was a religious site used by the kings of the northern kingdom as a place of worship in order to keep their people from going to Jerusalem for worship. For these kings, political power, economics, and pragmatism was more important than the worship of God.
We went to Caesarea Philippi, a Roman city that was filled with temples to their pagan gods, the largest of which was to the god, Pan. The temples were built along a huge rock cliff. On one side of the cliff there is the mouth to a cave, thought to be by the Romans an entrance into the place of the dead (i.e. Hades). I can only imagine what it must have been like in Jesus’ day as probably hundreds of people came each day to the temples, bringing their offerings to the gods that they had created. We were reminded there of the extent to which people will go in their worship of the gods of this world.
We also visited the ruins of two cities in which Jesus spent much of his time and did many of his miracles, Bethsaida and Chorazin. These were Jewish cities whose people had many encounters with Jesus during his life and ministry here on this earth as Jesus walked their streets, taught in their synagogues, and healed their sick. Yet, it was these same people whom Jesus condemned for being religious yet not having enough spiritual insight to repent of their sin and to recognize whom he truly was.
At the end of the day, as I sat by the Sea of Galilee reflecting on the places we had been, I realized that together they revealed a cross-section of much of humanity: (1) religious people who fail to see with spiritual eyes; (2) hedonistic people who worship the gods of their making – i.e. the gods of this world; (3) pragmatic people who are more concerned with power, politics, and economics than they are with worship of the one true God. Of course, throughout the centuries there have always been these types of people. Such is the case even today.
At the same time, however, I realized that there have always been those with hearts towards God, people who have been ready to worship and serve him alone. During Jeroboam’s time, there were those who refused to do as the king told them, choosing instead to obey God. In the New Testament we read of Greeks and Romans who were searching for the true God. They were called “God-fearers.” Many of them eventually put their faith in Jesus. And, although the majority of people at Bethsaida and Chorazin rejected Jesus, we know that there were many who heard Jesus’ call, and followed him. Yes, there have always been those who have wanted something more than religion, material goods, worldly pleasures, political power, etc. There have always been those whose hearts have longed for a kingdom different than the one that this world has had to offer.
The book of Hebrews describes those people for us: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth….they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-16 – NIV)
Each of us needs to ask ourselves, which kind of person am I? Am I merely religious or truly spiritual? Have I given my heart over to the gods of this world or to the God of heaven? Is my life about the kingdoms of this world or about the kingdom of God?
Have a great day!
-Pastor Tim Harris
The day included a hike at the Dan Nature Reserve which led us, not only along one of the main tributaries to the Jordan River, but to one of the “high places’ built by Jeroboam. It was a religious site used by the kings of the northern kingdom as a place of worship in order to keep their people from going to Jerusalem for worship. For these kings, political power, economics, and pragmatism was more important than the worship of God.
We went to Caesarea Philippi, a Roman city that was filled with temples to their pagan gods, the largest of which was to the god, Pan. The temples were built along a huge rock cliff. On one side of the cliff there is the mouth to a cave, thought to be by the Romans an entrance into the place of the dead (i.e. Hades). I can only imagine what it must have been like in Jesus’ day as probably hundreds of people came each day to the temples, bringing their offerings to the gods that they had created. We were reminded there of the extent to which people will go in their worship of the gods of this world.
We also visited the ruins of two cities in which Jesus spent much of his time and did many of his miracles, Bethsaida and Chorazin. These were Jewish cities whose people had many encounters with Jesus during his life and ministry here on this earth as Jesus walked their streets, taught in their synagogues, and healed their sick. Yet, it was these same people whom Jesus condemned for being religious yet not having enough spiritual insight to repent of their sin and to recognize whom he truly was.
At the end of the day, as I sat by the Sea of Galilee reflecting on the places we had been, I realized that together they revealed a cross-section of much of humanity: (1) religious people who fail to see with spiritual eyes; (2) hedonistic people who worship the gods of their making – i.e. the gods of this world; (3) pragmatic people who are more concerned with power, politics, and economics than they are with worship of the one true God. Of course, throughout the centuries there have always been these types of people. Such is the case even today.
At the same time, however, I realized that there have always been those with hearts towards God, people who have been ready to worship and serve him alone. During Jeroboam’s time, there were those who refused to do as the king told them, choosing instead to obey God. In the New Testament we read of Greeks and Romans who were searching for the true God. They were called “God-fearers.” Many of them eventually put their faith in Jesus. And, although the majority of people at Bethsaida and Chorazin rejected Jesus, we know that there were many who heard Jesus’ call, and followed him. Yes, there have always been those who have wanted something more than religion, material goods, worldly pleasures, political power, etc. There have always been those whose hearts have longed for a kingdom different than the one that this world has had to offer.
The book of Hebrews describes those people for us: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth….they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-16 – NIV)
Each of us needs to ask ourselves, which kind of person am I? Am I merely religious or truly spiritual? Have I given my heart over to the gods of this world or to the God of heaven? Is my life about the kingdoms of this world or about the kingdom of God?
Have a great day!
-Pastor Tim Harris
Comments
Post a Comment