What would the Lord need to do to get our attention? 

I can think of one method that He would not use!

It was a beautiful Sunday morning at church and the worshipful singing had just concluded.   With an air of dignity, I stepped up to the pulpit in the hope of delivering a powerful Spirit-filled sermon.

I reached down to open my message outline, which had been laying there. I saw a yellow post-it note attached which said, “Your zipper is down!” 

Instant brain freeze!  What? Where? How? Who wrote that note?

I wanted to look down and check my fly but that would be too obvious.  Maybe I could get Pentecostal and spin around and fix it on the way.  Or maybe I could use the open fly as an object lesson and bring a message on Zipporah the wife of Moses or maybe we could just sing, “I’ll fly away.”

In exasperation, I just flat stopped, and I told the congregation about the note.  Then I turned around and checked – and – my zipper was exactly where it should have been. 

What a terrible prank!  The guilty one confessed after church.  I hope there isn’t a special judgment for such a sin.

But back to the question – What would the Lord need to do to get our attention?   Well, what if He were to raise a nation from the dead?

The nation of Israel died in 70 A.D. when the Romans leveled it.  Yet, the Bible clearly predicted that Israel would be regathered as a nation in the last days.

For instance, Isaiah 11:11-12 says, “In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people… He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.” (NIV)

The prophet was one of many who predicted that the nation of Israel would once again exist.  This regathering was to take place during the time that Isaiah called, “The Day of the Lord” (Isaiah 13:6).    

The odds were against it.  To fulfill this prophecy, the dispersed Jewish people would need to retain their identity throughout the ages, come together again, and then reestablish their nation in their original homeland.”   

Despite insurmountable opposition to the Jews, God brought them together again.  After nearly 20 centuries they officially became a nation on May 14, 1948. 

The rebirth of this nation is a specific fulfillment to prophecy.  Its significance cannot be underestimated. 

The apostle John predicted that the last and final battle on earth will be waged against the nation of Israel.  They will defend their homeland in the valley of Megiddo (better known as Armageddon) which is central to the land of Israel – Revelation 16:16.    

The angels who attended the ascension of Christ foretold of His return.  They watched Him rise from the Mount of Olives which is just to the east of Jerusalem.  They predicted that Jesus would return just as He had left (Acts 1:11).  The prophet Zechariah concurred (14:3-4).

It would seem, that God is trying to get our attention!  The regathering of the nation of Israel is the canary in the coal mine – an indication that God’s plan for this world is accelerating towards its conclusion.   We can’t say whether it will happen today, next month or even next year, but the timer is clearly ticking down. 

Isn’t it ironic, that a nation the size of New Jersey so often dominates the world news?  Isn’t it puzzling how a multitude of nations are so focused on that tiny middle eastern region.  Isn’t it surprising how most anyone you meet in the U.S. has a strong opinion about Israel?

The resurrection of the state of Israel is God’s way of letting us know the end is coming.  We need to pay attention and get ready for it.

A PRAYER: Lord, we hear You and we fear You.  Come quickly, Lord, Jesus.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.