How Shall We Then Live?

by Lonnie Lane

In the middle of a worship time in my church, I saw a mini-vision of Yeshua dressed in the military uniform of the highest ranking officer, with all the ribbons, brass and insignias of a victorious Warrior. It was a uniform of splendor. He was obviously the Commander in Chief. Before I could even wonder why I was seeing Him like that, seconds later I saw Him again, this time in battle fatigues, like the Israeli Defense Force (IDF, Israel’s army) wears. He was walking among those who were seated at a long table in a room that appeared to be like the White House Situation Room where all high level military decision are made. He continued to walk around as if he were somehow interacting with the men imparting strategies, even though they were unaware He was there. I wondered, what could this mean?

It told me that Lord Yeshua is on duty, on full alert as Commander in Chief and intimately involved in whatever is going on. It indicated national decisions were being made that are prophetic in nature. What they are remains to be seen, but He was dressed for possible battle. When I asked Him about what I had seen, the only response I seemed to get was the sense that there were high level angels in that room as well, though I couldn’t see them. Something, I thought, is definitely up.

Not long after, our Navy Seal Special Forces were able to do away with Osama Bin Laden. Was that what I was seeing being prepared? Plans for his capture and demise? Was it America’s Situation Room and not Israel’s I saw? Perhaps. The Lord can be anywhere, of course, not just in Israel. Then, two weeks later or so, President Obama made the statement that he wants to see Israel relinquish their land and go back to the pre-67 war borders. This includes half of Jerusalem including the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, which is the only remains of the Temple. It took Israel 2,000 years to get it back, and now they are supposed to just turn it over to their enemies? I initially wrote that last sentence with personal pronouns, like, “It took us 2,000 years….and now we are supposed to give it back to our enemies?” Though I do not live in Israel presently, it is still, as a Jew, mine! God gave it to us, the Jewish people, and even if Jews still live elsewhere in the world, there is a strong sense of belonging to Israel. Especially Jerusalem is wrapped around our hearts, part of our identity and our heritage from the Lord. I’ve met many non-Jewish, born again believers who share the same love for Israel and Jerusalem. When we are His, we love what He loves. We want to be sure to be not only on the Lord’s side, but to stay by His side! Keep reading for some of how to insure that.

Obama also made mention of insuring Israel’s safety. What? Demand that Israel give away half of Jerusalem, and a portion of her land, and somehow that’s supposed to be linked to insuring Israel’s safety and security? We gave up the settlements in Gaza to the Palestinians and how’s that working out for us? Not so good. We gained nothing but trouble and more trouble and the peace that was promised never resulted from it. Those two statements – give up land and being secure – seem to me to be entirely contradictory. In a subsequent address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Obama said that this return to ’67 borders has been the intent of all recent presidents but he was just the first to say it. Was that a boast or a spreading of the responsibility for this grave injustice? He continued saying that it is expected that Israeli withdrawal from these territories would be “followed by Palestinians taking responsibility for security in a non-militarized state.” Since when are the Palestinians ever “non-militarized” toward Israel, even if it was rocks rather than mortars they’re heaving at us. Like we’re supposed to believe this?

Can you hear my skepticism, not that these things are being said, but that it’s said as if we shouldn’t even question the irrationality of it. I in no way presume to be articulate when it comes to discussing such issues, but I do know when the devil is smiling through his teeth with malice in his heart, trying to make it sound like he’s our friend and we should play nice together. His nice means our demise. The Liar in his utmost deception is speaking through presidents and leaders who make decisions and the world is listening and buying into it. Palestinian hate-groups in their various political or terroristic organizations have maps all ready being used in which Israel is no where to be found and the land that is now Israel says Palestine in green on it, not Israel in blue – they’re the people Israel is supposed to trust to share Jerusalem with and live peacefully side by side? It’ll never happen.

Last night I watched a video entitled, “Against All Odds” which gives accounts of various times and ways in which God acted supernaturally to protect Israel, her soldiers and citizens from their enemies in supernatural ways. I wept through most of it and shouted through other parts, cheering the Lord on as He brought miraculous victory against …well, all odds. In the natural, Israel should have lost those battles, but didn’t. How? Only one explanation – God! The Palestinians and even the world may come against Israel, but God will vindicate His Word. Israel will not disappear or be destroyed, no matter how much it may look like it in the eyes of those who intend her destruction whether by attempting to whittle her away piece by piece or in some intended military attack. June 7th marks the 44th anniversary of Jerusalem being back in Israeli hands. What will take place between this June 7th and next year’s 45th anniversary? Good time to be heeding Yeshua’s words: “Watch and pray!” (Matt. 26:41; Mark 13:33 NKJV).

A certain Christian would-be prophet proclaimed earlier this year that May 21st was the day of the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation. Needless to say, there was no Rapture when the day came and went, but I did get to thinking, could he have gotten the date right but misinterpreted what would happen? The tribulation, or the time of Jacob’s trouble is linked to the nations coming against Israel to divide her land. May 21st was just about when President Obama made his declaration. If the world should force its way into Israel and attempt to take the land from her by military force or by pressure, it will result in great troubles for the lands making the demands. We’ve been hearing such warning from several proven prophets for a while now. (See Sid’s interviews with John McTernan, John Paul Jackson, and John Kilpatrick, to name a few.)

When you hear of nations taking a stand against Israel, consider these verses which represent only a few of the same position God has taken regarding Israel: “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem (He has already done this!), I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat (on Israel’s land). Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land. The LORD roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth tremble but the LORD is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. So Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will pass through it no more. …Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not. The LORD dwells in Zion!” (Joel 3:1,2, 16, 17, 20, 21, my emphases).

Does that sound like Jerusalem is to be divided and given away? Who’s land is it anyway? Israel is custodian over the land but it is ultimately God’s land. He still calls it “My land.” (2 Chron. 7:20; Jer. 2:7; 16:18; Ezek. 36:5; Joel 1:6). To seek to take the land from Israel is to challenge the Almighty. There is none stronger or greater than He, no not one, “for the LORD Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Ps. 47:2). Just as Melchizedek declared to Abraham, “Blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand” (Gen. 14:20). He continues today to do the same for the sons of Jacob, even… against all odds.

With all this going on, I’m asking the Lord (to quote the title of a Francis Shaeffer book), How Shall We Then Live? Is there a political solution? Ultimately, no. But at the same time, to quote someone else, “All that is needed for evil men to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” But that “good” must be of the Lord or it will be futile. “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1). So what is the Lord saying in these particular days we’re living in? What I keep hearing, at least for right now is, “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). I then heard those same words confirmed prophetically this week in a prayer meeting, with a call from the Lord to be still, to put aside distractions and to come to Him and still ourselves before Him for seven days to hear what He would say to us. With that kind of confirmation, I took the word seriously. Were there things that clamored for my attention? There certainly were. Admittedly, it’s been a bit of a battle. But it comes down to, “Choose for yourselves today (and every day) whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

This same call to be still for a season extends to anyone who feels the tug on their hearts as you read this. As we still our emotions and quiet ourselves before Him at a new or deeper level, we learn to submit our emotions and our thought life to Him in order that in times of trouble or confusion, we know how to stay centered upon Him. We know how to remain poised before Him and not be shaken by circumstances. Nor by rumors or supposed conspiracies: ”In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it” (Isaiah 8:12). Even in the midst of whatever our busy lives require of us we can learn to stay quiet in our inner man before the Lord at all times. I believe He’s calling His people to a deeper and more penetrating walk with Him now, one that will enable us to remain stable should a time of destabilization in the world around us develop. To this I want to add: “Selah” (which means be still, to stop and think about what’s really being said).

We often quote the Psalm, “Be still and know that I am God” without realizing the context. This verse plops us right down in the midst of destruction. (Please read Psalm 46 for yourself.) The Psalm describes earthquakes, raging floodwaters, changing governments and wars, but in the midst of all that instability, God calls to us and says, “Shhh. Quiet yourself in Me, for I AM the Almighty, I AM All knowing, I AM far above the fray and I have control of all things even when things seem out of control.” He knows exactly where each one of us is in times of trouble as well as in times of peace and either way, it doesn’t change that He is watching over each of His children to bring us through to Himself. In the midst of confusion or chaos He whispers to each of us, I AM “not a God of confusion but of peace ” (1 Cor. 14:33). Are you threatened by circumstances? The Spirit says to your spirit, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you” (Exodus 14:13). Are there earthquakes? The Lord says, “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the LORD who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10). We can count on our Father, but now is the time to learn to hear Him, to trust and lean entirely upon Him, withholding nothing, and relinquishing any place in our lives where we may still be trusting in our own strength, cleverness or ambition. That is how we are to live, as those who are confident He will keep us even against all odds, should they arise.

“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart” (2 Chron. 6:14). As you enable us to maintain a quiet heart before you at all times, Lord, we each say, “You have granted me life and lovingkindness and Your care has preserved my spirit” (Job 10:12).

Reprint of this article is permitted as long as you use the following; Use by permission by Messianic Vision, www.sidroth.org, 2011.

Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.  All rights reserved. Used by permission.