Our True Home

...and from all the lands to which I banished them, they shall again live on their own land.” Jeremiah 23:8

I find the modern history of God’s chosen people fascinating. It tells the continuing story of the relationship of God with His people. 

Here is a quote from Charles Krauthammer - The Weekly Standard, May 11, 1998: “Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the corner candy store.”

God keeps His promises, no matter how impossible! After the Jews were exiled in 70 CE by the Romans, they continued to live the way of life God established for them, and they continued to pray that they would be able to return to the Promised Land. In 1948, the Jews were able to reestablish sovereignty over Israel under the leadership of David Ben-Gurion. 

The Jews underwent a lot of persecution. Some Jews believe that had there been no anti-Semitism, massacres, assimilation, had there been no Holocaust that murdered 6 million Jews, there would be 100-200 million Jews today. As it is, there are only about 6.5 million Jews in Israel today. 

Christians face severe persecution in many parts of the world at present. According to the US Dept. of State, “Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Jesus Christ.” We do not belong here on earth. The readings of Advent are all about waiting and longing for our true King and our true Home. One day we will be called home, and live in our own land. God always, always keeps His promises.