“TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”

“TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”

Monday, January 31st, 2022

SCRIPTURE:

“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

- Isaiah 41:9-11, 13 NIV

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

I can remember for the longest time wanting to travel to the Holy Lands. I grew up in the Church attending with my family. And I came to know Christ as Savior and Lord of my life through my local Church and the ministry of Young Life in high school. I served in youth ministry for several years and later heard God’s call to go to seminary to be better prepared for a lifetime of fulltime ministry. All the while, the urging to travel to the Holy Lands, to visit the places I had been reading about in my bible growing up and to literally walk where Jesus walked, was a far-off dream. However, little did I know that the Lord had great plans for me. Not only have I been blessed to serve in full-time ministry for over twenty years now, but I’ve been able to travel to Israel on three separate occasions. And in 2020, I was able to take my wife, Jill, with me. In 2023, I hope to take our oldest son, and anyone else who would like to go. (see link below)

Words can’t begin to describe how transformative an experience each pilgrimage has been. And yes, each trip has indeed been just that, a “spiritual pilgrimage”. In a strange, yet, mysteriously Holy and profound way, traveling to Israel has been like that of a homecoming.

Growing up, the church we attended had a large cross on the wall behind the altar table and on the sign out front that looked like a plus-sign, for lack of better words. And there were four additional crosses in each corner. Well, upon entering Jerusalem for the first time ever, I saw that same cross in churches and on buildings high above for all to see throughout Jerusalem. I came to find out that it is called the “Jerusalem Cross”. This cross has been used for centuries, symbolic of the four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the Good News reaching the four corners of the earth; North, South, East, and West.

To the west of Jerusalem is Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast, often described as the gateway to the world. A road in Israel called “the Way”, runs North through Damascus and South to Egypt. And looking east, across the Jordan River into Jordan, churches can be seen. The Jerusalem Cross. The four Gospels. The four corners of the earth. North, South, East, and West. The message of God’s love for ALL the world. To think, that some 2,000 years ago, the Savior of the world would be born to a virgin, live, suffer, die, and be resurrected from the dead, is a blessed gift of salvation for all those whom would believe. To think that such a message would travel some 6,000 miles, making its way from the little town of Bethlehem, and Jerusalem, and the Galilee region, over the seas, into the United States to North Carolina, and to the home and heart of where I am …. well… it’s breath-taking, humbling, and has brought me to my knees on more than one occasion.

Friends, The Lord of all creation has loved and continues to love us so much. God’s great love reaches the ends of the earth and has made its way to the place where you are right now, today. Be encouraged to pause with intentionality today to embrace the truth that the Lord of all creation has created you, knows you, and has loved you enough to reveal the truth of God’s Word and the message of Salvation with you.

FOR REFLECTION:

Not only have we all been so blessed with the gift of salvation, but as ministers of the Gospel, we too are called to share in the proclamation of the Good News. The Jerusalem Cross can be that gentle reminder of the message and gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has made its way all the way to each of us, on the other side of the planet, sinners in desperate need of salvation. This particular cross also reminds us of the blessed privilege and responsibility to “go forth making disciples of all nations” as well. To the ends of the earth.

To whom are you proclaiming the Good News? Those to the north, to the south, to the east, and to the west? Your neighbors next door, those living behind you, and living in front of you? Your Coworkers, classmates, family and friends?

Be encouraged to continue to share the love of Jesus Christ with ALL those around you, whomever those persons might be. And prayerfully consider taking a spiritual pilgrimage to Israel someday, to Jerusalem, to walk where Jesus walked, to read the scriptures where such events actually took place, and to worship and experience God like never before.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank you for your great love for me. Thank you for the faithfulness of those first disciples who relentlessly and with great passion shared in the Great Commission to share the love of Your Son, Jesus, to the ends of the earth. Thank you that the message of Your great love made its way to me. Thank you for the gift of Your redeeming love and Your Holy Spirit. May I never take for granted that someone shared with me Your Word about the gift of Jesus Christ and His great love for me. Empower me Lord, by Your Holy Spirit to proclaim with confidence and boldness, the depths of Your love wherever you would have me to go and whomever you would put in my path. Be glorified in and through me, Your humble servant. I pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. – AMEN

RESOURCE:

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl23022023m53841#eotours

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_cross