"Spiritual Israel" (2024 Booklet Adaptation)

 

“Spiritual Israel”

from Doug Batchelor and Steve Wohlberg’s 32-page booklet of the same title (2007)

Adapted for clarity and brevity by Gary L. Clendenon, 2024

A FOUNDATION OF SAND

Today around the globe, millions interested in Bible prophecy have their eyes fixed on Jerusalem. Many Christians buy into the connection of end-time Bible prophecies concerning the nation of Israel.

This “Middle East” approach to prophecy became popular among mainline churches in the 1980s with a series of books from Hal Lindsey: The Late Great Planet Earth and Countdown to Armageddon. In these best-selling books, Lindsey employed a very literal dispensational (1) approach to prophecy, making several very specific and very wrong predictions.

Lindsey wrote that a secret rapture of the church would occur in 1981, which would be followed by the building of a new Jewish temple, the advent of the Antichrist, the great tribulation, the invasion of Israel, the battle of Armageddon, and the millennium—all by 1988.

Despite every single one of those predictions obviously failing, his books continue to sell, making for most Christians a standard that all end-time prophecy is viewable only when filtered through “Nation of Israel” glasses.

Here is the big question: Are all of these end-time prophecies in Scripture regarding Israel and the temple speaking of the literal nation of Jews and a physical building, or is there a deeper spiritual application?

IT’S HAPPENED BEFORE!

Remember when Jesus came the first time? His people misunderstood and misapplied the prophecies regarding His kingdom. They eagerly waited and watched for Him to establish a literal, earthly kingdom, while Jesus constantly explained that His first coming was to establish a spiritual kingdom. He said, “for indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).

Because the persistent and popular teachings of the day focused on a muscular messiah who would overthrow the Romans and seat himself on David’s throne, the disciples brushed aside or simply ignored Jesus’ comments regarding His spiritual kingdom. They tried to make these spiritual prophecies literal, and the crucifixion crushed their expectations of an Israel with dominion over all the Earth. They lamented, “we had hoped that he [Jesus] would be the one who was going to set Israel free” (Luke 24:21, GNT).

Is it possible that today’s church at large is making the same mistake by misapplying prophecies regarding spiritual Israel and the temple—interpreting them in a literal sense?

THE “NAME ISRAEL”

A prophecy in the Bible can have a more than one application with both a literal and spiritual fulfillment. For example, in the Torah, the name “Israel” first applied to one man: Jacob. Hundreds of years later, all the numerous descendants of Jacob are called “Israel” by God when speaking to Pharaoh: “Israel is my son, even my firstborn. … Let my son go” (Exodus 4:22-23). This historical event is referred to in Hosea 11:1: “The LORD says, ‘When Israel was a child I loved him and called him out of Egypt as my son.’” Then, in Matthew 2:15, Hosea’s text is quoted as a prophecy referring to Jesus coming out of Egypt: “And so was fulfilled what the Lord said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’.” One prophecy. More than one meaning.

MATTHEW’S AMAZING REVELATION

In the Gospels, Jesus Christ is the Israel who came “out of Egypt”. A careful study of Matthew reveals even further that Jesus—as modern Israel—actually repeats the history of ancient Israel, point by point—but He overcame where they had failed.

In both Genesis and Matthew a man named Joseph has a dream and goes into Egypt to preserve his family! (Genesis 45:5/Matthew 2:13) [Genesis Joseph didn’t know it at the time, but he was later able to save his family from a 7-year famine.]

As previously stated, when the young nation of Israel comes out of Egypt, God calls it “my son”. When Jesus comes out of Egypt, God says, “Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matthew 2:15).

When Israel leaves Egypt, her people go through the Red Sea. The apostle Paul says they were “baptized unto Moses...in the sea” (I Corinthians 10:2). Jesus is also baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” and immediately afterward God proclaims Him “my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:15-17).

After the Red Sea crossing, the Israelites spend 40 years in the wilderness—led by the pillar of fire, God’s Spirit. Immediately after His baptism, Jesus is “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness” for 40 days (Matthew 4:1,2). [The biblical prophetic tool of a-day-for-a-year being witnessed here. See: Numbers 14:34]

At the end of the 40 years, Moses writes Deuteronomy. At the end of Jesus’ 40 days, He resists Satan’s temptations by quoting three scriptures—all from Deuteronomy.

In Psalms 80:8, God calls Israel a “vine” that He brought “out of Egypt.” Jesus later declares, “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1) [Connecting Himself also to the vine “out of Egypt”.]

In Matthew 12:16-19, Jesus quotes Isaiah 42:1-3, a passage which originally applied to “Israel, my servant” and applies it to himself as Matthew says, “in fulfillment of what the prophet Isaiah said.” Jesus is now the “servant” of Isaiah 42.

MORE STRIKING EVIDENCE!

In his letters, the apostle Paul also follows the principle of applying statements originally made about the nation of Israel to Jesus Christ. The clearest example is when God calls Israel “the seed of Abraham” (Isaiah 41:8). However, Paul later writes that Abraham’s seed does not refer to “many,” but to “one...which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).

Repeatedly in the New Testament, statements that once applied to the nation Israel are now applied to Jesus Christ. The Messiah is now “the seed.” Therefore, Jesus is the very essence of of Israel! This is an explosive truth, and it can not be ignored if we are to truly understand the role and identity of modern Israel.

A NEW NATION

Yet there is more. Remember that the name “Israel” not only referred to Jacob, but also to his descendants—who became Israel. The same principle is seen in the Bible.

The Lord told the ancient Israelites, “And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Peter re-applies these words to the Jewish and non-Jewish people who were believers in Jesus: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9).

Likewise, immediately after Paul’s statement in Galatians 3 about Jesus being “the seed,” he then tells his Gentile (non-Jew) converts, “And if you be Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).

Thus the Bible, when it speaks of Israel in a prophetic way, applies the name of Israel not only to Jesus Christ, but also to those who are born again in Christ. In other words, all true followers of Christ are God’s Spiritual Israel.

All true believers in God are called the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). From the very beginning, God has considered His true Israel as those who love Him with all their hearts, soul, body, and strength.

DOUBLE VISION

According to the Bible, besides Jesus’ personal embodiment of Israel, there are two Israels. One group is composed of literal Israelites “according to the flesh” (Romans 9:3-4). The other is a “spiritual Israel,” composed of Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) who believe in Jesus Christ.

Paul writes, “For not all who are descended from Israel, are Israel” (Romans 9:6, BSB). (2) That is, not all are part of God’s spiritual Israel who are of the literal nation of Israel. Any person—Jew or Gentile—can become part of this spiritual nation of Israel through faith in Jesus Christ.

GOD LOOKS ON THE HEART

Just as there are two Israels, there are also two kinds of Jews. First, there are the Jews who are only natural, physical descendants of Abraham. Second, there are the Jews in Spirit who believe in Jesus Christ. Paul writes: “Behold, thou art called a Jew...if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the [Gentile] keeps the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? … But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter….” (Romans 2:17, 25-29).

Did you catch that? The implications are staggering! Someone who is “called a Jew” because he is a physical descendant of Abraham, and yet who lives as a lawbreaker, “is not a Jew”—at least not in God’s eyes. His “circumcision is made uncircumcision.” It is revoked. Thus to God, he is a Gentile. And for a believing Gentile, his uncircumcision is counted for circumcision. Thus to God, he is a Jew.

Notice how Jesus put this to the Jews whom He was in discussion with when they said, “Abraham is our father”: “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did. … You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires” (John 8:39,44).

Paul wrote: “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith….” (Galatians 3:7-8). Thus, according to Paul, a real Jew in the sight of God is anyone—Jew or Gentile—who has personal faith in Jesus Christ!

Eventually this truth hit Peter between the eyes, and he told a room full of Gentile converts: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34-35).

THE ROAD TO BUILDING A NEW TEMPLE

Let’s now follow a brief but directly-related tangent. Many who have focused their attention on a literal “Nation of Israel” fulfillment are also expecting the ancient Jewish temple to be rebuilt. A significant proportion of evangelical, Charismatic, Pentecostal, and fundamentalist Christians worldwide endorse this view.

In the same way the devil has misdirected focus from spiritual Israel to the literal headlines concerning the Middle East today, he has also confused people on the subject of the Jewish temple. Oddly, most of the speculation and hopes for a rebuilt temple spring from one vague ethereal reference in the Bible dealing with the antichrist power.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, we read: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of sin is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (3)

Since the Romans destroyed the last Jewish temple in A.D. 70, many naturally assume that in order for this antichrist being, a specific person in their view, to sit in the temple, it will have to be rebuilt. But let us follow the biblical clues.

A SPIRITUAL HOUSE

Just before King David died, he wanted to build a permanent temple in Jerusalem. Nathan the prophet told David that he would not be able to build this house for God, but that his son Solomon would do it (I Chronicles 28:6). First Chronicles 17:11,12 recounts God through Nathan saying to David, “When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.”

This is one of the clearest examples in Scripture of prophecy having dual applications. Yes, history records that Solomon was the son of David and that he built a physical temple, but the Bible says Jesus was the true “son of David,” who was to build a temple and kingdom that was to last forever. (4) Jesus clearly taught that He had come to transfer the attention from a physical building of worship to something greater: the true biblical perspective.

John 2:19-21 says, “Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. … But he spoke of the temple of his body.” Later, as Jesus hung on the cross, the Jews mocked Him with a reminder of these words (Matthew 27:40). But, of course, Jesus was not talking about rebuilding the physical temple. He meant to build a spiritual one.

THE TRUE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

Among the early believers in Jesus, nearly all Jews, we find an unusual indifference regarding the Jewish temple. Because they knew Jesus to be the true Lamb of God, and that the Jewish temple was designed to accommodate animal sacrifices, the New Testament writers saw the temple as irrelevant. They recognized the establishment of a new spiritual temple and priesthood. Here’s the biblical evidence, with our emphasis in bold:

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple…? ...for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16,17).

“...you are members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

“...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices….” (1 Peter 2:5).

Sadly, even with this clear biblical evidence that God’s temple today is a spiritual one, many Christians are waiting for the Jews to rebuild a physical temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Yet there is no prophecy, promise, or commandment in the Bible that says the temple would be rebuilt again after the Romans destroyed it. Though it might be rebuilt, Jesus prophecy that “not one stone” would sit upon another seemed to be of an extremely final tone. (Matthew 24:2)

So what does 2 Thessalonians 2:4 mean? Simply this: This antichrist power would seat itself over the church of God claiming the worship that belongs only to Jesus Christ. Historically, Protestant scholars have consistently applied Paul’s words to the papal power, and to its influence in Christianity. But now, let’s return to the “nation” of Israel.

ALL ISRAEL SAVED

We say: “Only Jews will be saved. Furthermore, all Jews will be saved!” Now after you pick yourself up off the floor, allow us to explain these bold statements.

We all know that people are saved under the new covenant, right? Now, notice the wording of this new covenant: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31).

In the book of Hebrews, Paul expands on this concept adding: “I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts: ...they will all know me from the least to the greatest” (Hebrews 8:8, 10-12).

The new covenant is made “with the house of Israel”! God never makes a salvation covenant with Gentiles. So if you want to be saved, you must be born again as a spiritual Jew.

God does not have one method of salvation for the Jews and a different one for non-Jews. Everyone is saved the same way under the same program—by grace through faith. Paul uses the analogy of an olive tree to explain that all Gentiles who are saved are grafted into the stock of Israel: “I am talking to you Gentiles. … if...you, though a wild olive shoot have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourselves to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you” (Romans 11:13, 17-18).

The Christian religion is based on a Jewish manual called the Bible. (In this light, it is difficult to understand how any professed Christian could be anti-Semitic.) Christianity is not a new religion, but rather the completion of the Jewish faith. So with all this in mind, we can better understand what Paul meant when he later said in that same chapter of Romans 11, “And so all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26, emphasis added). Some take this verse to mean that God will ultimately save all literal Jews. If this were true, it would contradict every principle of God’s dealings with humans throughout history and Scripture.

We are saved based on choices we make regarding God’s provision, not on national status or physical citizenship. But if, when Paul says that “all Israel will be saved,” he is speaking of spiritual Israel, and if we understand that we become a “true Jew” only by a choice, then it all makes sense.

ISRAEL’S PURPOSE

The primary functions for the Jewish nation were to preserve Scripture (Romans 3:1-2) and introduce the Messiah to the world [which had its beginnings on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached and 3,000 were baptized into Jesus]. We read in Acts 2:5, “There were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” These Jewish believers in Jesus took the news and truth about Jesus back to their respective countries.

Before Jesus’ death, he specifically stated that the early ministry of His apostles was to focus on the literal house of Israel: “Do not go among the Gentiles or Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6).

But after Jesus’ death, the Jewish Sanhedrin (supreme court) officially rejected the message of the gospel through the Spirit-filled preaching of Stephen. They even executed him. From that point on (A.D. 34), God opened the doors to the Gentiles. As Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews in Acts 13:46-47: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us saying: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth’.”

PROPHETIC APPLICATIONS

How does all of this apply to prophecy? The greatest book about prophecy, the book of Revelation, talks about Mount Zion, Israel, Jerusalem, the temple, the Euphrates, Babylon, and Armageddon. Thus it is clear that Revelation uses the terminology of the Middle East in its prophecies. But sincere Christians all over the earth are applying these prophecies to literal places in the Middle East and to the modern nation of Jews. Yet once we grasp the biblical principles discussed in this study, we are able to see that there is something wrong with that picture.

Remember that when Jesus came the first time, the devil had bamboozled God’s people into making the spiritual prophecies about the Messiah carnal and physical. Satan is doing the same thing today with the subject of Israel. Yet the plain, biblical truth is that Revelation centers on Jesus Christ and God’s Israel in the Spirit, not genetic descendants or the nation of Israel itself.

With this understanding of spiritual Israel, suddenly other prophecies in the Bible take on a whole new meaning! We can see that the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14 are not literal Jews and that the new temple will not be earthly, but rather the Body of Jesus—both literally (John 2:19-21) and figuratively (I Corinthians 12:12-27).

CONCLUSION

“Fools Gold,” a brass-yellow mineral with a metallic shine, contains no gold at all. However, the resemblance it has to gold caused many prospectors to mistake it for gold, which is how it became known as fool’s gold. This “counterfeit gold” dynamic is also prevalent in the area of spiritual truth. Sadly, many are toting around heavy bags bulging with spiritual “fool’s gold.”

Furthermore, the tragic fact is that the popular literal focus on Israel miserably fails to grasp the true power of God’s promise. And this failure to recognize the understanding we have laid out here will likely result in false Middle East interpretations and even,

in the end of days, ultimate deception.

Don’t forget that “For not all who are descended from Israel, are Israel” (Romans 9:6, BSB). And Remember, “we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort…” (Philippians 3:3, NLT). Share with others the truth that “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28-29, NIV).

Let us not accept popular, tangled teachings that focus on an earthly state. Rather, let us live in the Spirit. Like Jacob of old, let us wrestle in prayer and cling to Jesus until we hear Him say, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and humans and have overcome” (Genesis 32:28, NIV).

Shalom

To purchase a copy or copies of this booklet “Spiritual Israel” visit www.amazingfacts.org

FOOTNOTES by Gary L. Clendenon:

1. Dispensationalists mostly hold to a pre-millennial view of end times. They believe Christ will rapture His church out of the world, after which a seven-year tribulation will ensue. Following that time, Jesus will usher in a literal 1,000 year reign on earth with His saints. (christianity.com)

2. Or as the Contemporary English Version says, “After all, not all of the people of Israel are the true people of God.” I also like how this version paraphrases it: “For not all who are genetic descendants of Israel are part of God’s Israel.” (The Remedy Bible)

3. Though this text does not specifically use the word “Antichrist”, according to my research, the authors and most other Christians understand from the context and understanding of other Bible texts, that this “man of sin” or “lawlessness” is the Antichrist. Wikipedia puts it this way: “He is usually equated with the Antichrist in Christian eschatology.” (From Wikipedia Search for: “Man of sin”)

4. Matthew starts his book with a genealogy showing that Jesus, the “son of David” is a direct descendant of King David—as prophesied, of course (See Psalms 110). Then, after that, Matthew uses the title “Son of David” 9 more times to describe Jesus with 6 times being unique to Matthew’s Gospel.

Silent But Deadly: the Chinese Version!

 

Silent But Deadly: the Chinese Version!

New York Times bestselling author, Amy Tan, a Chinese-American shares the following story in her book The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life:

I was at yet another bookstore, about to give another reading. I was waiting in the wings, as the store manager delivered a long introduction on my credentials as an author. Glancing to my side, I saw a wire book rack crammed with cheap and familiar booklets. They were CliffsNotes, self-proclaimed as “your key to the classics.”

CliffsNotes have served as the midnight salvation of many a literature student, and if the sad truth be known, this former honors English major used them to write incisive papers on—dare I say it?—Ulysses, Lord Jim, and Hamlet.

Imagine: There I was, in a bookstore, recalling these past sins, about to read from my own published work. I gave a silent apology to my fellow authors Jim Joyce, Joe Conrad, and Bill Shakespeare, may they rest in peace. And then my eyes landed on another familiar title: The Joy Luck Club. I stared at those CliffsNotes, thinking to myself, But I’m not dead yet.

I flipped through the pages and found an obituary-like biography of the author, me, Amy Tan. I was shocked to learn that I had once carried on “a relationship with an older German man, who had close contacts with drug dealers and organized crime.”

Could this possibly be describing my Franz? Does my personal history of having once dated a loser constitute the sort of information needed by “serious students,” as Cliff refers to them? Will this make them “secure in the knowledge that they have a working understanding of the work”?

In page after chilling page, I saw that my book had been hacked apart, autopsied, and permanently embalmed into chapter-by-chapter blow-by-blows: plot summaries, genealogy charts—and ai-ya—even Chinese horoscopes. Further in, I was impressed to learn of all the clever nuances I’d apparently embedded into the phrase “invisible strength”. According to Cliff, I meant for “invisible strength” to refer to the “human will,” as well as to represent “female power” and “the power of foreigners.” It was amazing what I had accomplished.

The truth is I borrowed that phrase from my mother, who used to say something like it whenever I was whining out loud. She’d say, “Fang pi bu-cho, cho pi bu-fang,” which is commonly uttered by Chinese parents, and which translates approximately to: “There’s more power in silence.”

What my mother intended, that I understand, however, was precisely this: “No one wants to hear you make a big stink over nothing, so shut up.” The strict linguist might want to note that the literal translation of that Chinese phrase runs along these noble lines: “Loud farts don’t smell, the really smelly ones are deadly silent.”

Anyway, that’s the sort of literary symbolism I use with phrases like “invisible strength”—not the sort of analysis you find in CliffsNotes, I might add.

“How Does GOD Respond to Us?” (Grace Note #3)

 

“How Does GOD Respond to Us?” (Grace Note #3)

Written by Gary L. Clendenon, September 17, 2014

In a recent devotional talk, Pastor Brad Paice talked about the challenges of having a two-year-old daughter. Anyone who has been a parent of or even observed a two-year-old knows what this means. At two, a child first discovers they have a self and that self can make decisions. They can say “Yes!” and they can say “No!” And somehow, as we all know, “No!” seems to be the word chosen most! They have identified that they have a will and they are going to exert it!

We've all seen what comes next when that two-year-old old child doesn't get want it wants: crying, screaming, temper tantrums, throwing themselves on the floor, etc. These are challenging times for parents, but we soldier on knowing that we'll all get through it and be better for it. We know that we are trying to teach our children well—even if they can't see it. We continue to love our child—in spite of their messy, cantankerous behavior. We even have some positive moments and see glimpses of the wonderful child they are underneath this passing phase.

Truth be told, we adults have our two-year-old moments with GOD. You know it's true. We want things to go our way! And when they don't, we sometimes throw our own hissy-fit. How does GOD respond to our immaturity? Jesus says in Matthew 7:9-11 “If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?” (The Message Bible)

We know how as parents we respond as best we can to our own children. How does the God of the Universe respond to us in perfect love? GOD is the Proud Parent who, in spite of our two-year-old defiance, lights up with pride when in our own imperfect way we attempt to do anything He's taught us—like a two-year-old horribly mangling "The ABC Song" (and how we find that "cute" and "sweet"). Like any proud parent, GOD gushes with enthusiasm and affirmations at our feeble efforts and says with a large smile on His face and a twinkle in His eye, "That's perfect, my child—just perfect!"

I believe that if we understood this down to the heart level, it would change our lives. It would change our relationship with and understanding of Our Heavenly Parent. It would change our relationship with and understanding of ourselves and our value and worth. And, both of these would change our relationships with and understanding toward each other. And that would change our Church and our World! Here's to that GOD of Love and Grace. May He fully inhabit our hearts, minds, and bodies—now and forever more!

"Boredom vs. Adventure" (Grace Note #12)

 

“Boredom vs. Adventure”

(Grace Note #12)

By Gary L. Clendenon, August 31, 2024

In Psychiatrist Andrew Hodges' 1986 fictional book Jesus: An Interview Across Time, Jesus, in answer to the first question of the interview, speaks to God's lack of popularity: “If God is not very popular today, it is not his fault. It is the people who tell his story. They are using the wrong version.”

“Which version is that?” asks the interviewer. “The boring version.” Jesus replies.

Over 2,000 years, some of us Christians have become a bit too settled into our lives and our version of God's story. We have become much like Bilbo Baggins in the story of The Hobbit who responded to Gandalf's desire to find a hobbit to go on an adventure: “We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty, disturbing things! Make you late for dinner! I can't think what anybody sees in them. … We don't want any adventures here, thank you!”

Instead of adventure, many of us are tempted to choose the much safer comfort and security of structured routine and, though most of us wouldn't admit to it, eventual boredom. Famous blind woman, Helen Keller had something interesting to say about this path: “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

Christian authors John and Stasi Eldredge have written many books that include this theme of adventure. They assert strongly that God created us for adventure and that “Life is not a problem to be solved; it is an adventure to be lived.” (1) They quote Oswald Chambers as saying, “...gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.” (2)

This is a challenging teaching for me, as I tend to be very hobbit-like in my approach to life. Some of you will embrace it with 100% all in, as illustrated by the following quote: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: 'Wow—what a Ride!'

My more gentle approach to this teaching is to become aware that whether I acknowledge it or not, life is an adventure! I want to have that kind of mindset that sees life that way and instead of freaking out at every unexpected thing that pops up, do what my children encouraged me to do: Yell out “Plot twist!” and embrace what comes as part of “The Great Adventure”—trusting that my Heavenly Father is in control and has my back. This, of course, leads me to share with you an awesome, uplifting song by Steven Curtis Chapman—The Great Adventure (Click for song). 

P.S. If you would like some help viewing life as an adventure and/or getting unstuck or out of a rut, I would highly encourage you to consider the “Foundations” weekend seminar. There is actually an upcoming seminar: October 11-13 in Portland, Oregon. Click here for more information. 

FOOTNOTES:

1. Wild at Heart, p. 200.

2. Ibid, p. 209.

"A 2nd World War Two Miracle"

 

"A 2nd World War 2 Miracle"

For the 1st Miracle story, click here.

From A Thousand Shall Fall by Susie Hasel Mundy, 2001

"Winter Rescue"

Adapted by Gary L. Clendenon, 2024

After the end of World War Two, in the middle of the winter, Helene Hasel, a Christian woman living in Frankfurt, Germany was on a trip to find food for her desperately starving family. She rode the packed train with many others looking for food in the countryside as they headed towards the Vogelsberg Mountains. She got off the train at the Eschenrod station and walked the two miles to the village where she had some friends, a light snow falling as she arrived.

Helene was warmly received by the Jost family who, when they learned of the hunger in the city, loaded her down with food until she felt like St. Nikolaus at Christmas packed with gifts for the children. Hunger would be banished for many weeks. Frau Jost insisted that Helene spend the night and retire early and promised to wake her up in time to catch the horse-drawn sled that made the trip to the railway station early each morning.

With a full heart, Helene knelt beside the bed thanking her heavenly Father for fulfilling her needs and asking protection for her and her children the next day. Then she climbed into bed and quickly fell asleep.

When she heard Frau Jost’s knock on the door, it seemed impossible that the night had already passed. Frau Jost stuck her head in the door. “Frau Hasel, you might as well stay in bed.”

“Why?” Helene murmured, still half asleep.

“It will be impossible for you to leave today. It’s been snowing all night. The sled won’t go to the station this morning. Even the snowplow won’t go out until the storm stops.”

Helene stepped to the window, and her heart sank. Deep white drifts covered everything in sight, and enormous flakes still fell from the sky.

Desperately she turned to the old woman. “I’ve got to leave,” she said. “The children have no food, and I promised them that I would be back tonight. They’ll be so worried if I don’t come. God will watch over me, and if I leave right away, I can get there in time for the afternoon train to Frankfurt.”

“Frau Hasel, you have at least 80 pounds of food, and there’s no way you can walk. If something happened to you, I would never forgive myself.”

“I must go,” Helene said firmly.

Seeing that Helene could not be talked out of her plan, Frau Jost fixed a sturdy breakfast and while the younger woman ate, Frau Jost went into her pantry and returned with some little treats for the children, which she stuffed into every nook of the bulging bags.

Helene was unable to restrain her tears of gratitude. “How will I ever thank you?”

“No need to thank me,” said Frau Jost, her own eyes wet with tears. “I am glad to help. Just pass the favor on to someone else when you are able to. May God protect you.”

Helene embraced the old couple, and then set out. When she reached the bend in the road, she turned back one last time. They still stood watching in their doorway. Helene paused for a moment taking in the scene of the quaint cottage in the cozy village covered in snow. She lifted her hand, and the couple responded with a last wave. Though she did not know it then, it was to be the last time she saw the Josts.

All the while it snowed and snowed, and soon Helene couldn’t see 10 steps in front of her. Her feet seemed heavier and heavier, and her load pressed down. “Dear God,” she prayed again, “help me, give me strength.”

Her limbs ached as she painfully pulled each foot out of the deep snow. Her breathing became labored, and the icy air cut into her lungs like knives. She reached the hill leading into the woods, and as she ascended her burden weighed her down even more.

Lord, help me. Oh, who will help me?

Suddenly she could go no further. Her knees started to buckle under her, and in panic she staggered to a high milestone by the side of the road. One mile to the station, she read.

Wearily, she leaned against the stone, resting the rucksack on top of it. As her bags slipped from her hands, they almost disappeared in the deep snow. She shut her eyes for a moment.

I must not fall asleep. I must not fall asleep. All I need is a few minutes to catch my breath, and then I’ll continue.

Her thoughts wandered to her hungry children at home. Again she closed her eyes, then jerked them open. If I fall asleep, I might never wake up again. She was beginning to feel heavy and oh-so-comfortably warm. Once more, her eyes closed, and this time they stayed that way.

The snow settled on her. Soon, still leaning on the signpost, she looked like a gnarled tree stump, a part of a noiseless landscape. She started to dream, at first seeing herself standing in the snow with fluffy snowflakes swirling out of a leaden sky. The next instant, she was enveloped by a circle of light, and when she looked again, it was no longer snowflakes but white clad angels that surrounded her.

Such peace, she thought, such wonderful peace . . .

The rumble of an approaching motor roused her, and she jerked awake. A diesel truck was laboring up the hill. She tried to raise her hand to flag it down, but her stiff limbs would not obey her. In despair she saw the truck continue on its slow course, and sleep washed over her once more.

A voice suddenly said, “Now you will see a miracle of God.”

A heavy hand shook her by the shoulder. Each time she tried to raise her head, it drooped forward again. The shaking, the jolting, went on and on.

Leave me alone, she thought. I’m so wonderfully warm, and I have no energy to move.

“Wake up, wake up,” a rough voice kept saying. “You must wake up. You are about to freeze.”

Annoyed, she finally opened her eyes to see a man standing in front of her.

“I parked my truck at the top of the hill,” he said. “I couldn’t stop right here or I never would have made it up. You come with me now, and I’ll give you a ride.”

Mechanically she tried to stand up straight, but her stiff body did not cooperate. Realizing she needed help, the driver took her bags and rucksack and started up the hill. Then he returned and half dragged, half carried her to the cab. He gave her a drink from his thermos of hot tea, wrapped blankets around her, and turned the heat up high before he continued his journey.

“That was a close call,” the man said, “I do believe you almost froze to death.” I nearly missed seeing you, you were so covered with snow. What are you doing out anyway on a day like this?”

Helen was beginning to thaw out. She told him about her four hungry children at home and her effort to get food.

“Thank you so much for picking me up. God sent you to help me,” she concluded. “I know I shouldn’t have rested. But I was so tired. As soon as I stopped, warmth flooded through me. I just could not stay awake. It would be a great help if you could take me to the train station.”

“You know,” he said, “the interesting thing is I never come this way. Today is the first time I’ve been along this route. As far as taking you to the train station, that’s going to be useless. I know from reliable sources that all trains are being searched. Any black market food is being confiscated. It would be a shame to lose it after all you’ve been through to get it. Where do you live, anyway?”

“In Eschersheim, near Frankfurt.”

“I tell you what. I’ll just take you there. Eschersheim is not much out of my way.”

Gratefully Helene accepted. She now looked at the driver more carefully. Middle-aged, nondescript, coarse hands, rough clothing, brown hair streaked with gray, probably married with children himself. He began responding to her small talk with monosyllables. Finally she gave up and dozed off. She woke when the truck stopped.

“Well, here we are,” said the driver, turning off the motor. He lifted out her bags, then helped her down the steep step.

She took his hand gratefully. “I just don’t know how to thank you enough.”

“I’m just glad I found you before it was too late. In the future you must stay home in such bad weather. Now I must be on my way.”

With a final nod of his head he climbed back into the cab. She stooped to slip the rucksack straps over her shoulders, groggily wondering how she had gotten there. Then she turned to have a last glance at the disappearing truck. She looked down the length of the street.

There was no truck.

And there were no tracks in the freshly fallen snow.

The Sad Story of Judas: Part 3

 "The Sad Story of Judas" (Part 3)

Click here for Chapter 1

From The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White

adapted by Gary L. Clendenon, May/June, 2020

(All Bible quotations from the NIV, unless otherwise stated)

“The Redeemer does not want to lose one soul; His experience with Judas is recorded to show His long patience with perverse human nature.”

(Christ Object Lessons, p. 74)

Chapter 3: “True Greatness!”

On this last evening with His disciples, Jesus had much to tell them, but “a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” (Luke 22:24) This contention, carried on in the presence of Christ, grieved and wounded Him. The disciples clung to their favorite idea that Christ would assert His power, and take His position on the throne of David. And in their heart, each still longed for the highest place in the kingdom.

When the disciples entered the supper room, their hearts were full of resentful feelings. Judas pressed next to Christ on the left side; John was on the right. If there was a highest place, Judas was determined to have it, and that place was thought to be next to Christ. And Judas was a traitor.

Another cause of dissension had arisen. At a feast it was customary for a servant to wash the feet of the guests, but no servant was present, and it was the disciples' part to perform it. But each of the disciples, yielding to wounded pride, determined not to act the part of a servant. By their silence they refused to humble themselves.

How was Christ to bring these poor souls where Satan would not gain over them a decided victory? How could He show that it is loving service, true humility, which constitutes real greatness? How was He to kindle love in their hearts, and enable them to comprehend what He longed to tell them?

The disciples made no move toward serving one another. Jesus waited for a time to see what they would do. Then He, the divine Teacher, rose from the table. Laying aside the outer garment that would have impeded His movements, He took a towel, and wrapped it around his waist. “After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:5) This action opened the eyes of the disciples. Bitter shame and humiliation filled their hearts. They understood the unspoken rebuke, and saw themselves in altogether a new light.

So Christ expressed His love for His disciples. Their selfish spirit filled Him with sorrow, but He entered into no controversy with them regarding their difficulty. Instead He gave them an example they would never forget. His love for them was not easily disturbed or quenched. He knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came from God, and went to God. He had a full consciousness of His divinity; but He had laid aside His royal crown and kingly robes, and had taken the form of a servant. One of the last acts of His life on earth was to gird Himself as a servant, and perform a servant's part.

Before the Passover Judas had met a second time with the priests and scribes, and had closed the contract to deliver Jesus into their hands. Yet he afterward mingled with the disciples as though innocent of any wrong, and interested in the work of preparing for the feast. The disciples knew nothing of the purpose of Judas. Jesus alone could read his secret. Yet He did not expose him. Jesus hungered for his soul. He felt for him such a burden as for Jerusalem when He wept over the doomed city. His heart was crying, How can I give you up?

The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. When the Savior's hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then and there to confess his sin. But he would not humble himself. He hardened his heart against repentance; and the old impulses, for the moment put aside, again controlled him. Judas was now offended at Christ's act in washing the feet of His disciples. If Jesus could so humble Himself, he thought, He could not be Israel's king. All hope of worldly honor in a secular kingdom was destroyed. Judas was satisfied that there was nothing to be gained by following Christ. After seeing Jesus degrade Himself, as he thought, Judas was confirmed in his purpose to disown Him, and believe himself deceived. He was possessed by a demon, and he resolved to complete the work he had agreed to do in betraying his Lord.

Judas, in choosing his position at the table, had tried to place himself first, and Christ as a servant served him first. As the disciples watched Christ's action, they were greatly moved. When Peter's turn came, he exclaimed with astonishment, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Christ's condescension broke his heart. Peter was filled with shame to think that one of the disciples was not performing this service. “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:6-7) Peter could not bear to see his Lord, whom he believed to be the Son of God, acting the part of a servant. His whole soul rose up against this humiliation. He did not realize that for this Christ came into the world.

Jesus said to the disciples, “you are clean, though not every one of you.” (John 13:10) He had washed the feet of Judas, but the heart had not been yielded to Him. It was not purified. Judas had not submitted himself to Christ.

After Christ had washed the disciples' feet, and had put on His garments and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:12-16)

No one was so exalted as Christ, and yet He stooped to the humblest duty. That His people might not be misled by the selfishness which dwells in the natural heart, and which strengthens by self-serving, Christ Himself set the example of humility. He washed the feet of His betrayer.

In His life and lessons, Christ has given a perfect exemplification of the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does not live for Himself. Jesus whole life was under a law of service. He served all, ministered to all. Thus He lived the law of God, and by His example showed how we are to obey it.

Again and again Jesus had tried to establish this principle among His disciples. In My kingdom the principle of preference and supremacy has no place. The only greatness is the greatness of humility. The only distinction is found in devotion to the service of others.

Source: Desire of Ages, pages 643-46, 649-50.