T h e r e is no more w on d er fu l and vivid proof today of God’s ful fillment of His prophetic Word than what we see transpiring in the Holy Land. I have taught men in seminary the original language of the proph ecy of Isaiah, but I never thought I should live to see the truths so mar velously transpire before my very eyes. When I was a boy in Hebrew school, we marched up and down the streets of my home city, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when the Balfour Dec laration was issued. I remember see ing grown men and women weeping openly. God was giving back their land! Isaiah 61:4 reads, “And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former désolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many genera tions.” Traveling to Israel, we see that the Jews are busily building, literally fulfilling the Bible, letter for letter and word for word. In the north, we think of the city of Haifa which reminds one of San Francisco. Below the city is the port where much activity and shipping go on daily. Thousands of crates of those marvelous Haifa oranges are sent around the world. Half-way up the mountain is the Technion, which is the Israel Institute of Technology. At the very top is Mt. Carmel, where Elijah contended with the lying, idolatrous prophets of Baal. Haifa has an abundance of indus tries, oil refineries, paper mills, ce ment works and many other such operations. There is a huge number of rocks all around. Legend has it that when God created the universe, He gave all the rocks into the custody of two an gels. They carried them in huge con tainers; however, they collided over the Holy Land and spilled them. But the Israelis are making good use of them in building. Tel Aviv is a mod ern city about a quarter of million population. Today that number has doubled. It has some of the most beautiful hotels and modem build
ings. They are the most up-to-date facilities you could find anywhere. It is a city throbbing with modem life. The culture is alive. The people are putting an emphasis on arts. A S H A M E D ? We wouldn't hang Him on a tree As they did at Calvary, Nor drive sharp nails till blood flowed free. Oh, no! Not you! Not me! When church time comes, we stay at home, Nor hear His anguished cry. We have so many things to do And think too much of " I. " So Jesus walks among His friends, Neglected, sad, alone, No different now than it was then, Hearts still as hard as stone. For church we haven't time to spare— Who'd cook the Sunday meal? Who would for the baby care? Who'd take care of that deal? We've also got to wash the car And paint the kitchen wall. Oh, no! We wouldn't cause Him pain; We just ignore His call. And Jesus weeps and cries, "Forgive," As He did on Calvary, And a deeper hurt is borne by Him Because of you! And me! If Jesus came to earth today, He'd find our ardor dim. We do our work, have time to play, But have no time for Him. How seldom are our churches filled, How few the souls we save. Oh, yes! We have our reasons good, But it was all He gave! Some day sure we'll be ashamed As on His face we gaze. I wonder if 'twill matter then Just how we spent our days? Nothing can begin to compare with Jerusalem, the great city of David. Their modern structures, both for private and government operations, almost defy description. I hope many 8
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