Living the Sacred Land We Sing About

Travelujah is beginning a new blog section entitled  "Minister of the Month". For this first month's we are featuring Pastor Alexis Wallace, the founder of the Global Evangelistic Center in Kissimmee, Florida, where he pastors his church with his wife Evelina.

Alexis has represented The Knesset's Christian Allies Caucus at developing relations with the Bahamas and coordinated an official visitation of Knesset representatives to a special meeting with the Prime Minister of the Bahamas.

Pastor Wallace recently shared with Travelujah the reasons why he believes every Christian should tour the Holy Land. You'll find his inspiring article below.

The songs of Zion will always be sung in a strange land until we connect with the land that we are singing about.

For hundreds of years many Christians have vibrantly sung about, "Marching to Zion" with no real point of cultural, or geographical reference. We have been singing about a mythical place that has seemed so far away. But, there is no doubt that our Biblical history will come powerfully alive the minute we set foot on this sacred land.

The history of Zion is one that goes all the way back to Abraham and his submission to God's call to leave the comfort zone and familiarity of his family home to get into the place where God would bless him. There is always a sacrifice with God's Kingdom when He calls us to be blessed. Abram was 75 years old when he left to be blessed and thus have his character and nature changed, as signified through the name change to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4; 17:5.

There is no doubt that choosing to visit Israel is a decision that will call for a sacrifice on behalf of the traveler. It is easy to continue to exist within the comfort zone of our homes and familiarity of our own countries, but there is a dire need to connect with Zion to bring substance to the foundation of our faith.

Sadly, today we live in a time when political correctness tempts many a politician and preacher alike to twist and change truth when addressing the issue of defining Israel's territory. But there is no other nation on earth where God has so specifically marked its territory. I will resist the temptation right here to launch into a commentary on divine right because this essay is dedicated to sharing with you the vital importance of truly connecting with the Holy Land.

Abraham is the progenitor of the world's three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The significant and sacred milestones in the lives of the key characters that create our mosaic of Biblical history all had geographical points of reference for the memorable moments in their lives. This is not just Bible history but a true reason to come to Israel and experience. Even in the natural, long distance love affairs move from fantasy to reality when the lovers meet and embrace.

If we are going to get a full grasp of Bible prophecy regarding the prophets, their culture, customs, mindsets and passions, then we will have to acknowledge that all 48 prophets and the 7 prophetesses were Jewish. As a matter of fact, all of the Bible's prophets were Jewish. Moving into the New Testament, suffice it to say that all of Christ's twelve apostles were born Jewish and practiced Judaism.

Of the eight major events of Bible prophecy telling us of the end of the age, seven of them deal directly with Israel. These seven, including Israel being the only nation to be reborn, all have sites associated with them to emblaze the prophetic reality of God's Word into us. Yesterday will become uniquely tomorrow when you experience these sites first hand.

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Pastor Alexis Wallace is President of the Jewish Christian Network/ Global Evangelistic Center. He can be contacted via the Jewish Christian Network on Facebook. This Network has a membership in every continent of the world that includes a diverse spectrum of international governmental, civic and business leaders.