CONNECTING THE DOTS: ISRAEL AND GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION FOR YOU AND ME

Matthew 24: 23-24 “32 “Now learn this lesson 

from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender 

and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 

33 Even so, when you see all these things, 

you know that it is near, right at the door.”

It begins and ends with the nation of Israel. Who would have thought that Israel would bud again as a nation? The scriptures liken Israel to a fig tree. 

Hosea 9:10a “When I found Israel, it was like 

finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors,

it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.”

,

The Jews have always been under siege—from the Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian empires up to the modern times. Hitler’s holocaust tried to annihilate them too. 

Yet the Jews still thrived; and reverted as a nation, back in 1948,  to the land of Israel which the Lord had promised them a long time ago.

And why would God not raise them up again? His plan of salvation had to be fulfilled through them! 

Jesus, the promised Messiah—Savior—born that first Christmas day, demonstrated that He indeed was God, not only because of the miracles He performed, but because of the changed lives of those who believed in Him. 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him 

should not perish but have eternal life.”

The ultimate demonstration of His love and power? He willingly went to the cross—that those who would put their trust in Him may no longer “die”, or be eternally separated from God for their sins. 

He was buried, rose again on the third day—as prophesied—then ascended to heaven, and took His seat at the right hand of the Father.

Here’s where the plot thickens. Jesus Himself prophesied: 

Matthew 24:7-8 “For nation shall rise against nation, 

and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, 

and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 

All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Don’t we experience all of these “sorrows” happening under our very nose? More and more earthquakes elsewhere. Covid, ebola, sars. Wars and rumors of wars rumbling in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, even Asia—with Russia, Iran and China as aggressors.  

Back to Israel. Just recently, Hamas terrorists breached Israel’s peace and borders. More than five thousand rockets fired. Close to a thousand Israelis died. Civilians butchered and hostages barbarically abused and paraded around Gaza. Thus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s all out declaration of war against Hamas, and by extension, its enabler Iran. Israel’s 9/11, analysts say. 

Experts see this as just the beginning of a wider conflict that may draw other nations too into the fight. 

A cause for fear? Yes, greater unrest will arise because of all these. But, we need to pray for and stand with Israel;  and continue to pray for God’s mercy and grace for our families and all nations—because Jesus is still seated on the throne, continuously interceding for those who would humble themselves before Him. 

He is the God of all creation. He too is the God of history and His purpose will prevail. 

And while He keeps Israel under His wing, He relentlessly calls us too, to come under His protective wing. 

Jeus came that we may be saved. You and I can trust Him with our lives and our future—yeah, even our eternity! 

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, 

for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind 

by which we must be saved.”

Here’s the best news for those who believe. Jesus revealed to John: 

Revelation 3:10 “Since you have kept my command 

to endure patiently, I will also keep you 

from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

Most bible scholars refer to this “keeping us from the hour of trial” as the rapture. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself 

will come down from heaven, with a loud command, 

with the voice of the archangel and with 

the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

After that, we who are still alive and are left 

will be caught up together with them in the clouds 

to meet the Lord in the air.” 

Matthew 24:44 “So you also must be ready, 

because the Son of Man will come at an hour 

when you do not expect him.”

Would you rather trust Jesus, your Creator and God, than your own unbelief? 

God’s plan for Israel will prevail. Until the very end of this age—and even through the seven-year tribulation—the remnants of Israel will carry on God’s plan to evangelize the nations. This too has been prophesied. 

They’re not the chosen people for nothing. The fig tree has bloomed. Now they take center stage once more as God’s plan reaches its climax. 

That’s the length and breadth of God’s love for mankind. He wants everyone saved till the very end. 

Would you sincerely pray to ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord? 

Here’s how: O God, I believe you are sovereign and have a great plan for my life. It’s not for calamity, but for life—a life that’s full because of Jesus, your Son who came to save us from our sins. Jesus, I confess you now to be my Savior. I have sinned. I repent! You promised to give me a new heart, so I yield my sinful heart to you. Make it your residence through your Holy Spirit. Help me to listen and yield to and obey your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Here’s a reference for a more detailed view of the rapture and the seven-year tribulation. David Jeremiah’s site: 

https://davidjeremiah.blog/what-is-the-tribulation/

WHAT GOD IS THIS?

Image credit: Ranach Digital Archive. Jonah and the Whale

Unrelenting. Showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace. (Merriam-Webster)

“Jonah: the Story of God’s Unrelenting Desire to Save” must have struck hearts like a dagger as Pastor March Villareal (San Diego Christian Fellowship-South) started our lesson on the prophet Jonah’s life. 

God tirelessly seeks everyone—yes, even the vilest and most loathsome.

Exhibit number one: Nineveh. History records it as the capital of the wealthy, powerful and prestigious Assyrian empire. Yet they were vicious and cruel.

And Jonah? Prophet. God-fearing. Righteous. God commissioned him to preach repentance to this evil nation. 

Yet he tried to run away from God—because God wanted to save the Ninevites, a nation hostile to Jonah’s own people.

Jonah 1:1 “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’ 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.”

Aren't some of us like Jonah—squirming at the atrocities done by the ungodly?

David also did pray (Psalm 59:5), “O LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors.” 

Seems like the prayer I’d pray when I read about corrupt and unjust politicians who enrich themselves like their countries’ coffers were their own. 

Ouch! 

Yet God pursued Jonah—so He can save an evil nation! 

The Almighty was unwilling to let go of Jonah. God chose him to warn the Ninevites of their impending doom if they didn’t repent. 

Here’s how grace played out for Jonah. Jonah hated Nineveh. “How could God send me to this horrible people?” he must have thought. Yet in spite of his momentary weakness, God persisted, “Preach to Nineveh.”

“Jonah tried to run away because he knew God was good,” says Pastor March; and He was bound to save them if they repented. Not good if you knew this nation was hostile to yours, right? 

“Oh, how could He?” Jonah must have boiled.

Imagine the ensuing drama: 

God litters Jonah’s escape route with violent storms. While he sleeps in the bowels of the boat, the mariners frantically call on their puny gods. 

Confronting Jonah, they beg him to call ON GOD. 

Jonah admits in verse 9 “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

Fast forward to verse 14-16. They aren't crying out to their idols anymore, but to the great God of Jonah—God of heaven, maker of the sea and dry land. . 

V. 14 “Then they cried out to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.’ 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they  offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him."

God doesn't waste an opportunity, does He? While He allows His prophet to stew in his disobedience and hatred for the Ninevites, He demonstrates to a bunch of macho seafarers that He indeed is God. 

The rest of the drama seems like a sketch taken from a kiddie book: three days, Jonah safe and sound in the belly of a great sea creature—most probably a whale; in a smooth ride to Nineveh. 

Repentant, he preaches to the nation. They repent. God withholds His wrath. 

This! In spite of a reluctant prophet’s disobedience. 

Humbling, huh? 

In the New Testament and even today, God calls us to repentance through Jesus. Why not call on His name today. He’s the name above every other name. The only designated way to the Father. Savior. Lord of all.

Prayer: Who am I, Lord, that I would question your desire for even the vilest to come to repentance and be saved? I too am a sinner and deserve your wrath. You’re calling me too! I repent. Save me, Jesus! Use me to proclaim You to an unbelieving and hostile world—that they too might be saved. 

CAN'T DO WITHOUT

Credit for these images: Ryan Rotor.
Images published in my book
Sorry to Burst Your Bubble:Life Leadership
Lessons from the Greatest Dreamer

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. 

Whoa, say that again!? 

This must be the Bible’s single biggest truth. Miss it, and you mess and mesh with disaster. Get it, and you’re secure—for all eternity. 

Jesus Himself said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

So if I believe, that’s it—my destiny is guaranteed? 

Pastor March Villareal recently peeled off for us the layers of faith—that faith obeys, affects, blesses and sees. 

Faith obeys. Abraham heeded God’s call to leave his life of comfort to journey into the unknown, yet a land HE promised. 

Faith affects. Abraham may not have experienced God’s promises in toto; yet his faith impacted his son Isaac, then Isaac’s son Jacob; and as if in a relay, passed it down to us who have placed our trust in Jesus, God’s son. 

We’re the last chaps in God’s baton-passing race. 

So, have you relayed this baton to your kids or to everyone in your circle of faith—such that they follow your lead? 

Faith blesses. Does yours add value to others’ existence? Do you persist on being kind, loving, giving, patient, helpful—though troubles hound you? 

“God tests us,” says Pastor March, “but doesn't He know our limits?” Surely, the testing is for us, to strengthen our spiritual muscles, buffing them for heavier loads. 

Remember Joseph? He couldn't have become Egypt’s second most powerful man had he failed his qualifying exams. 

Faith sees. Faith assures us that those things we had hoped for, will be fulfilled—utterly convinced that they will transpire though YET unseen. (Hebrews 11:1)

You’d be the father of many nations, your descendants will be as numerous as dust and the stars in the sky, God promised Abraham in Genesis 11,13 and 15. 

Abraham didn't have Isaac till he was a hundred, his wife Sarah 90 years old! 

Could you have waited, and still believed, like Abraham? 

Blind faith? Absolutely not. Because faith waits, and obeys.

That’s faith in action. Faith does not sit pretty and waits for the apple to fall from its tree. While on wait-mode, it prays, clasps its hands, bends the knees. Pleads, yes. Then believes some more. And obeys some more.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Three generations—flawed as all humans are. Yet God declared them righteous because of their faith.  

God has made believing easier for you and me. The Word, His son—Jesus—became flesh and blood, and demonstrated His love for us through the cross; that through Him, the barrier between God and man may be shattered.

Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Faith is heavy stuff. How can anyone pooh-pooh such life-saving promise? Coming from the One who alone holds our lives in His mighty hand, that’s trustworthy. 

Abraham obeyed. It was credited to him as righteousness. 

It starts with trusting Jesus and His Word. Humbly ask Him, “Save me!” Repent of your sins. Obey Him as your Lord. 

That’s faith in action. He will do as you have believed. 

BY DESIGN

Me overshadowed by my
favorite artist of all time,
Vincent Van Gogh

              Are you a designer? Of course you are!

                          A limitless one, in fact. 

Fashion. Architecture. Industrial. Automotive. Graphic. Software. Avionics. The arts. The list goes on and on. Name it, with the brain we've all been given, we can conceptualize no end, put our thoughts into action. 

Where would we all be without our ability to imagine and think, and make these imaginings work? What would become of us without our Grand Designer's wherewithal to create and pass on this ability to us?

"Wisdom!" That's the long and short of it. All of God's power to design and make things work stem from His wisdom spoken to bring universe into existence. 

Wisdom speaks through the writer of Proverbs:

“The Lord possessed me (wisdom) at the beginning of His work (Prov.8:22).”  "When He established the heavens, I was there; when He drew a circle on the deep, when He made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep, when He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters  might not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him, like a master workman… V27-30a

So where’s the big bang theory coming from? This wondrous, complex universe could not have existed by just a confluence of elements or particles simply kissing each other and melding into gigantic spheres of immense beauty.

Our beautiful earth? Don’t tell me it’s merely an accidental assemblage of atomic particles. It’s not happenstance or evolution. That’s intelligent design! 

Design is so evident even in the tiniest flower or an insect or a cat. 

Image credit: Mina Bhasavanich

Cactusway.com says that cacti go to extreme lengths to conserve water, so they open their stomata (pores) at night to make sure they’re able to store sufficient water in their bodies. No wonder we find them thriving in arid places. And oh, yes, they spring forth the most gorgeous buds. Design!

How do ants survive? Proverbs 6:6-8 “Go to the ant, o sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” Design!

Lion facts: (wwf.uk.org) Lions’eyes are sharper in the dark so they do their hunting at night, giving them a huge advantage over their prey. They hunt more during stormy nights so the wind and noise can camouflage their movements. Females rear their cubs in prides—much like a family of human mothers caring for their kids together. Design, a definite yes. 

Ever wonder how God spoke these into being…? The Alps and other majestic mountains, grand canyons, mighty oceans, mesmerizing aurora borealis, icebergs, glorious beaches, snow flakes descending on your nose like flakes from heaven. These and a million others, big or small, have thrilled us no end, haven’t they? 

And what about you and me? Fearfully and wonderfully crafted, says David in Psalms 139:14; that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, per Ephesians 2:10.

Miniaturize yourself, hold on to your nano-sized camera and plumb the depths of the human body. It’s the world’s single greatest wonder. What if you can really explore your inner parts? What a joyous discovery cruise! 

I don’t need to be a doctor or a biologist to realize what a cool and wondrous being I am. Thanks to my grade school science teacher, and yes, Google. Knowledge explosion, dear. 

The smartest dog or elephant doesn’t even come close to what we humans can accomplish. 

Here’s why you and I are even more unique… we’ve been made in our Creator’s image! The God who spoke creation into being breathed life into us. That’s why man has the capacity to know, understand, create, invent, produce, write, teach, etc., etc. 

And boy, what treasure we’ve been handed! Our universe, this earth, our very lives. We’re just a speck or dust in God’s total scheme of things. But because He breathed life into us, he too gave us free will to make choices. 

We’ve just been through Holy Week, a reminder that because of our first parents’ decision to believe a lie, we’ve been separated from God. But God’s design is this—that we be restored back to Him. Yet only through Jesus, the Word, through whom creation came into being. 

But it’s a choice you and I need to make. Resurrection Sunday is also by design. Jesus came down from heaven, became human, died on the cross; and by so doing, made a way for us to be reconnected with our Father. Don’t you just love this design of redemption! 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that those who believe in Him might have everlasting life.

He asks only this—place your faith in Jesus. Afterall, He’s your Creator. Whom would you rather trust to ensure your future?  

Prayer: God, thank you for creating me. I realize that my sins have separated me from you. Forgive me. Jesus, save me, enable me to turn away from sin and obey you. You know me from the inside out. You created me. Therefore, lead me. Teach me your ways. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

COME DOWN FROM YOUR PERCH

Image credit: The Wall Street Journal 

Ever felt like a crumb or a flake? That time when your terror-of-a-boss tore you to shreds in front of your colleagues?

Or when you, trotting like a diva, fell headlong because your three-inch heel broke. 

Humiliating! Embarrassing! Argh! 

All you wanna do is cry, take cover and disappear from the face of the earth. Yet these are nothing compared to utterly humbling and life-altering experiences. 

Like finding yourself in jail or homeless one day—and losing your family—when, just yesterday, you were wallowing in a sea of money and luxury. Remember Ponzi scheme artist Bernie Madoff? (my post prior to this)

Humbling situations. We need them! It’s the Almighty’s way of saving us from ourselves and our delusions. 

Because you can't be diva-esque and remain untarnished by self-importance and narcissism (especially if you have millions of mad-about-you social media followers).

Nor can you be a wise manager if you become just like your terror boss, thus perpetuating antagonism and warmongering in your workplace.  

And you can’t endlessly be amassing wealth at the expense of others. Something’s gotta give! Sometime. Somehow. 

Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

So the earlier you descend from your high perch, the less painful and humiliating it should be. 

One of the Bible's prime examples: Zaccheus. Tax collector. Corrupt. Wealthy. 

A wee-sized man, he climbed a sycamore tree to get a glimpse of the Master who just blew into town. He was curious about this miracle worker who stirred the entire nation about the coming kingdom of God.

“Ah nice! Up here, He won’t even see me,” he must have thought. 

Yet, Jesus, upon reaching that spot, looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. Luke 19:5&6

That lone encounter with Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ life forever. 

Verse 8—"Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

Verse 9—Jesus replied, "Today salvation has come to this house…”

This in spite of Zacchaeus being a low-life. He was saved in the nick of time! 

What could have happened if he didn't come down from his high perch and Jesus didn’t tell him He’d stay in his house that day? 

To this day, Jesus calls us:

“Come down. Humble yourself. Open your heart to my grace. I alone possess the key to turn your life heaven-ward—no matter how greedy or proud or narcissistic you’ve been.”

Verse 10—“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Fact is: all of us are lost. In big or small ways, we are all corrupt. Let’s start with your thoughts. Your conscience knows. 

Sin has separated us from God. That’s why Jesus came. 

The God who created us has the power and the authority alone to rescue us from our follies. No one or nothing else can. 

Ephesians 2:8—“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” 

Prayer: Examine my heart, God. Cleanse me of all my sins. I repent. Jesus, come into you into my “house”. Holy Spirit, make me your habitation. Lead me. Enable me to obey and not follow after my own desires. Jesus, be my Savior and my Lord. Amen.

GREED MONSTER

Bernie Madoff—the dark side of investing.
Image credit: Netflix Movies

 How heavily invested are you? I mean, money-wise. It's a volatile marketplace, analysts say, so be careful. Your hard-earned money may turn to mush. 

I'm no expert, so don't take my word for it. But learn a lesson or two from those who've been baited into placing their money in ghost investments, and lost. 

Smooth operators, these sweet-talkers, promising you sky-high returns.

Case in point: Bernie Madoff—one of the founders of Nasdaq, once hailed as a Wall Street investment expert, a do-gooder who supported numerous charities—conned investors big-time. 

Netflix's "Madoff, the Monster of Wall Street," detailed his Ponzi-style "fund management" as having defrauded victims of approximately $65 billion. 

Investor.gov defines Ponzi as an investment fraud which pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors. Simply, your money never really gets invested. It just goes to the swindler's bank account—money merely juggled between his clients’ funds. 

A promise of over-the-top-earnings—that’s the bait. So clients' invest more, because initially, they’re really getting big returns. 

Until the well runs dry. 

“Ponzi” derives its name from Charles Ponzi, an Italian swindler and con artist who in the 1920s lured US and Canadian investors to invest with him by promising 50% profit within 45 days (per Wikipedia). 

1 Timothy 6:10 "The love of money is the root of all evil." 

Proverbs 23:5a "Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone..." 

It may have been a slow-mo riches-to-prison spiral for Madoff, yet consider the sad trail of tragedies which befell him, his family and his investors. 

He was sentenced to 150 years in prison. (Madoff passed away in 2021.) Five of his former employees were also indicted. 

His son Mark committed suicide, followed by the death of his brother, Andrew, who succumbed to lymphoma. They both worked for their father, but they were unaware of his shenanigans because the dark side of the business happened on another floor of the building where they were off limits. They notified the authorities once they discovered their father’s criminal activity. 

Madoff’s wife remained homeless after all their properties were confiscated. 

And his investors? They periodically stormed the courts and the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) for their money back. Some were very old retirees who lost not only their hard-earned earnings but their properties as well. 

A fund manager representing smaller investors committed suicide. 

Yet how stupid is it! That anyone would knowingly inflict harm on the  unsuspecting, break the law, and expect his corruption to be undiscovered. 

The whistle-blower—bane of fraudsters.
Image credit: Netflix Movies

Yes, a whistle blower did Madoff in. Within minutes of running Madoff’s numbers, financial analyst Harry Markopolos discovered the mathematical impossibility of the former’s incredible no-loss financial uptrend. He persisted in banging at the doors of the SEC in spite of their dismissiveness. It helped too that the 2008 US financial crisis pushed up-front the country’s fractured investment system, 

Hear the Lord’s Word against fraudsters: Micah 2:1,3 “Woe to those who plan iniquity, who defraud people of their homes, rob them of their inheritance... I am planning disaster against this people… You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.”

Every wrongdoing will be exposed, even shame its perpetrators! 

How not to be entangled with con artists? Proverbs 14:7

“Escape quickly from the company of fools…” 

Don’t be greedy. Ecclesiastes 5:10 “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income…” 

It’s hard to come off a vicious cycle of greed. But with God, nothing is impossible.