 |
Bob Westbrook is a Titusville, Florida based professional
photographer, writer, and consultant. He writes commentaries
from a Christian Zionist perspective, endeavoring to encourage Christian support for Israel. He is the Bible Prophecy moderator for the website and the author of .
|
|
|
|
By Bob Westbrook
September 1, 2002
I'm going to Israel for the month of September. Why, you might ask? There are a variety of answers to that question, but perhaps the most succinct one is I'm going on a personal solidarity mission. By whatever means I am able, I want to demonstrate to the citizens of Israel that one more Christian is on their side.
The present difficulties that Israel bears are formidable. Nearly an entire population in their very midst is deranged with a consuming murderous intent. If that wasn't bad enough, all of the neighboring countries act the same way. Not only have millions of Arab/Muslims for decades plotted the demise of the Jewish state -- nearly the entire world does not sympathize with Israel's plight! I do, however, and want to go there to accomplish whatever I can, no matter how little, to stand with them.
But beyond the solidarity mission, I'm going because it gives me a thrill. I loved that place before I had ever been there -- love before first sight. And it is not a love based on some abstract theological concepts or some ethereal, mystical weirdness. I love the dirt, I love the trees, I love the mountains, I love the people. And most of all, I love Jerusalem.
I am not the first one to feel this way about Jerusalem, of course. Regardless of one's creeds or beliefs, there seems to be a nearly universal feeling that Jerusalem is a unique, special, irrationally compelling place. When I say "irrationally" it means there is no empirical evidence that one could analyze to understand why it is so compelling, save this simple declaration alleged to have been uttered by our Creator: "I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there."
If it is the place of the Name, then it would seem a good place to visit. It is also is a good place to start when attempting to unravel the question of God. You want to know why I'm certain God exists? Start by looking at Jerusalem, looking at the Jews. It is not a coincidence, after all, that the Book that claims to be the communication from Heaven is focused on them. The fact that history has vindicated that they are a Chosen People is a most obliging argument that there indeed exists a Chooser. And the Chooser chose Jerusalem as well. "The Lord loves the gates of Zion."
I too love the gates -- yes, a seemingly irrational love affair. When the Psalmist sang of Zion, "For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity" (Psalms 102:14 NIV), he expressed the sentiments of many throughout the centuries, mine included. But why pity?
Perhaps the writer could see ahead, and understood the travails that Jerusalem would experience. The prelude to this Psalm tells us it is "a prayer of an afflicted man, when he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD." Yet he finishes with a story of liberation and exaltation for Jerusalem.
When you walk the streets of Jerusalem, you feel this mixture of affliction and exaltation. It is an experience like no other in this world. If you are a Christian or a Jew, you should go experience it if you are able.
"But," you exclaim, "it is too dangerous to go there!" Sadly, this is the nearly unanimous reaction I receive when I tell people I am traveling to Israel. Please allow me to address my fellow Christians frankly on this matter.
You have read the book or watched the movie, "The Hiding Place" about Corrie Ten-Boom, who with her father and sister risked much to help Jewish people in peril during the Nazi era. You were moved and inspired by the brave sacrifices they made. So why is it you cannot make the connection between what they did and what we should do? Our level of danger and potential sacrifice is very much less than theirs, yet we cannot even consider the thought of standing beside Jewish people in peril today because "it's too dangerous????" What will we do when real danger presents itself?
Here are some statistics that refute the notion that it is now too dangerous to visit Israel. The state of Florida, where I live, has a population of 16 million, approximately three times the population of Israel. During the two year period from the outbreak of the "al-Aqsa Intifada" in September 2000, approximately 3600 people died in automobile accidents in Florida. During that same time, approximately 611 people have been killed by terrorist attacks in Israel. Multiplying that number by three because of the population difference results in a total of 1833.
Therefore, based on these statistics, I am twice as likely to be killed in an automobile accident in Florida as I am to be killed by a terror act in Israel. So, if you think it is too dangerous to even consider a trip to Israel now, then to be consistent you should not get into your car. It is too dangerous.
Regardless of what you may think about the danger, I'm going. And I will have a wonderful time. I was born there, you know.
"Indeed, of Zion it will be said, 'This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her ' The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: 'This one was born in Zion.'" (Psalms 87:5-6)
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
