The Veil
“Honoring Israel brings God’s blessings” New York Times Best Selling Author John Hagee
Jerusalem. She is the city in Israel with the brightest and richest sun my eyes have ever seen. She sits in the middle east permeating sweet scents of spices and herbs throughout her narrow stone streets. She is covered in prayer. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit float around her like holy feathers. She is the location of ancient foundational stories of the creation of man. Her roads are well traveled by people of all color and cultures as they pilgrimage about seeking an understanding of our God who is sovereign and just. A God who favors her so much that He made eternal promises to her nation of Israel. She is a touch stone in the hearts of men/women who love God and His son Jesus Christ.
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:3
And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. Genesis 12:3
These verses are among many on the legitimacy of Israel in the heart of God. As gentiles first were preached to by Jewish leaders (Romans 15:27) it is to them I owe awareness of their stance in God’s heart. I support her right to defend that stance.
Jerusalem. She is surrounded by enemies who seek to destroy her. She is heavy hearted in exasperation over the possibilities of denial from her beloved ally, America. Her survival does NOT depend on me but a radical leaving her side has consequences. My survival is contingent on God, who loves and favors her.
Israel houses Jerusalem. Abraham, the father of Jacob (Israel), was given the promise that affects us all. Why on earth would we turn our backs on such promises to the place of origination of the Kingdom family of God?
God’s promises to Israel were not replaced by salvation through Christ. As the truth of salvation in Christ stands, so do His promises stand.
As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1.
The American elk, the deer in this piece is me. It is you, the believer. America is a nation unraveling our biblical foundation. Are we facing a divine drought? The elk’s antlers expand up and out in all directions seeking out possibilities within our reach. His antlers stretch to the seven mountains. The goal is NOT to dominate or dictate these mountains, but to assert what was stolen by a culture who seeks to eliminate a God who gave us our culture in the first place. The heartbeats of a culture are arts, education, government, religion, media, family, economy. To thrive in the name of Jesus Christ is a desire that should fuel the very essence of our hearts.
The canvas this piece was created on are real bible pages. They are turned upside down representing the twisting and turning we as a nation have done to the written word of God. I repent for any part I have played in this chaos.
In closing, this piece depicts the footing for my support of Israel and my faith in God’s promise that includes Jerusalem. I once heard a pastor say, “No nation is called to be great”. This is not true. A nation is great when her soil cries out the very spoken word and commands of our creator. Faith in God calls on me to love His beloved Israel.
Like my friend said… “Faith cannot be justified to the carnal, natural mind.” I don’t seek to justify my faith and I will stand on the promises of truth. And if humans wear veils that defuse the truths of God and His written promises, and the glory of Jesus Christ and his homeland, may those veils be removed by the beautiful mercy and amazing grace that only comes from The Almighty God. I cry for you Israel. May my tears be vindicated by the very breath of God.