Today when the facilities for a city or an area are being installed, it is said that the infrastructure is being established for that city or area. By this word we mean the basic installations, facilities, roads, etc. It seems that the word "infrastructure" also has some spiritual applications. For something spiritual to happen, the groundwork also needs to be laid. When we consider this, we realize that God has been doing this very thing for thousands of years in Israel. Let us look at some truths concerning our salvation or spiritual infrastructure.

Some Areas Of Salvation Infrastructure

There are several things that clearly set off the Judeo/Christian tradition from all others. The Judeo/Christian tradition is anchored firmly in history while all the others are not. Let me clarify what I am saying. In Luke 3:1-2, we have this astounding historical summary: "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness." John the Baptist was not just some wild-eyed prophet crying out in the wilderness. Rather, he was a man firmly rooted in history.

Through the millennia of history, God has been active. He dealt harshly with Pharoah in Egypt. He also dealt severely with Nebuchadnezzar and later He called King Cyrus His anointed. The Bible tells us: "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes" (Prov. 21:1). This verse may be applied to any king or leader past or present. God has been at work in history and He is still at work. On the other hand history has been at work on the false gods and has consigned their images to the dustbins.

Another thing that sets off our tradition is that it is part of an age-old stream of revelation. Buddha was a man who lived in the sixth century BC. He was a teacher of religion and he has made a considerable impact, particularly upon the Far East. Yet Buddha was only one man. He was not a part of a centuries-old stream of teachers and prophets sent from God, all relating the same message. Mohammed likewise was only one man. Although he has impacted the lives of close to a billion people, there is no age-old religious infrastructure from which he sprang. He desperately tried to borrow a history from the Jews and Christians, but he failed miserably to incorporate it into his religion. Rather, the resulting Koran is filled with numerous misquotes of biblical and historical truths.

When we consider the Judeo/Christian tradition we discover it is ancient, with its roots going back to the beginning of time. For instance, from the fairly modern call of Abraham to our century is a four-thousand-year stretch of time. That time is crammed with religious developments, with prophets, priests, kings, psalmists all moving in the same religious stream. The Bible which records all this is not just the testimony or ideas of a single person, but the labor of numerous inspired writers all confirming each other. The Bible contains 66 books written by almost 40 different authors over a period of at least a thousand years. It is unthinkable and astounding that such a composition could happen and yet it has. It is a miracle!

In addition, there is a physical infrastructure of salvation in the land of Israel and particularly in Jerusalem to back up and testify to the biblical events. The importance of this is illustrated quite often in the archaeology of Israel. Today Mohammed's people are claiming much of the land of Israel as their own and they are claiming it from time immemorial. Yet, archaeological discoveries continue to uniformly reflect the ancient Hebrew culture with its language and heritage, much to the chagrin of the Muslims. On several occasions, the Muslims, out of jealousy, have tried to destroy these emerging archaeological records. These archaeological finds testify to the truth, as the Scripture also has said in Psalm 85:11, "Truth shall spring out of the earth..."

The Importance Of Infrastructure

Why is infrastructure so important? Let us illustrate. Spiritual things are associated very closely with their natural counterparts. The Bible says in I Corinthians 15:46, "... the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual." It is much like body and spirit. The two are very closely connected.

Suppose God had gone out into the dark world of the Gentiles and appeared to someone there. Suppose He had said, "Hi, I am God and I want to introduce you to my Messiah that you may be saved." After his initial shock the savage may have answered, "But Sir, what do you mean by "Messiah," and what do you mean by "saved?"

All of us are quite visual and we need pictures, plenty of them, if we are to understand spiritual things. It has taken God thousands of years to develop all the pictures necessary that man could understand even the simplest elements of His salvation. There had to be sacrifices, millions of them, so that people could clearly get the picture of sin's awful price. There had to be the giving of the Law, that man could understand God's ways and how he could go about pleasing Him. There had to be a Temple that man might understand God's holy and awesome presence. There had to be centuries of prophecy relating in the smallest detail the coming of the Messiah.

At last, in the fullness of time, God Himself came to visit this planet in His son Jesus (Yeshua). So after centuries of preparation with His own people, the Messiah came as the full expression of the invisible God (Col. 1:15). Now it is clear to everyone what God is like. He is love, light, truth, the way, the life and much more. Now men and women can actually understand, believe and be saved.

Concerning The Infrastructure Of Israel

Our faith needs a base and a foundation. On one occasion the Psalmist said, "His foundation is in the holy mountains" (Psa. 87). Almost without our knowing it, the land of Israel and the Jewish people have served as a foundation for much that we believe and hold dear. The land of Israel is like a "fifth Gospel" that helps pilgrims understand the other four Gospels and the rest of the Bible for that matter. It is partly for this reason that Paul tells us in Romans 11:17-18, "And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you." We are part of something big and something ancient. We have roots and a foundation.

Today the foundations are being destroyed and lost as more and more territory in Israel is surrendered to the Muslims. Great world leaders, kings and presidents have all encouraged the division of Israel. We could almost say that if every centimeter of Israel were to be given away the world's leaders would be deliriously happy. Few have understood that this loss will come at great cost to themselves, and to our Judeo-Christian faith. In Psalm 11:3, the Psalmist asked, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

Just recently, the Pope, who represents multiplied millions of Christians, met with Yasser Arafat. In the meeting, he joined with the Muslims in strongly condemning Israel's hold over all of Jerusalem as morally and legally unacceptable. It is doubly sad that millions of Evangelical Christians would join the Pope in decrying Israel's claim to the Holy City. As a result of the long-drawn-out peace process, Israel has already handed over some 40% of the so called "West Bank" to the Palestinians. Few seem to realize that this West Bank is the ancient mountain homeland of Israel. It contains most of the Biblical cities like Shechem, Bethlehem and Hebron. These mountains are the area promised to Israel as the place of their return and resettlement (Ezek. 36:8).

Also in recent months, the very Temple Mount has been illegally excavated and pillaged by the Muslims as they have expanded their existing mosque. Because of the peace process, Israel has remained silent about this. Israel has helplessly watched as ancient artifacts have been unceremoniously dumped in the Kidron Valley. One wonders what would be Israel's reaction if chopped-up pieces of the Ark of the Covenant would be seen among the debris.

All this reminds us of the great importance of praying for the peace of Jerusalem (Psa. 122:6). It reminds us again that we are to give God no rest until He makes Jerusalem a praise in the Earth (Isa. 62:6-7). As we pray, we can console ourselves that the Kingdom of God has never had a bad day. We are told that His government is ever on the increase (Isa. 9:7), regardless of appearances. In time, God's great plan will be worked out and drawn to completion. Then God's angels, saints in heaven and those on earth will rejoice together.

In that day, there will be a Messianic reign of peace that will reach into every dark crevice of the earth. Indeed, as it is said in Habbakuk 2:14, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea." At that time, what God began in Israel will come to a complete fulfillment back in the land of Israel again. Nations and peoples will flock to Israel to learn of the living and true God (Isa. 2:3). At that time His Law will go forth from Zion and His word will flow from Jerusalem. The Lord will reign supreme from His Jerusalem throne. Jim Gerrish directs our Bridges for Peace Galilee Study Center located in Migdal, north of Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Contact Jim via email at: Bfpgal@bezeqint.net, Tel/Fax 972-6-671-2981.

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