Few understand what Jesus Christ meant when He told His disciples, “You shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man be come.” (See Matthew 10:23). Jesus was referring to the fact that “spiritual” Israelites, the elect of God, are sprinkled throughout all nations and cities of the earth. They can be found in China, Italy, Iraq, Russia – wherever. All truly converted men and women of every race and lineage, in God’s eyes, are spiritual Israelites. In fact, we are the only true Israelites in God’s eyes and estimation. This mystery and this truth is far more profound than at first meets the eye. Whatever God demands of Israel He demands of YOU if you are a truly converted person with the exception of Old Covenant demands superseded and set aside by the New Covenant. And whatever God PROMISES Israel, He promises YOU if you are now His child through belief in and submission to His firstborn Son, Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ meant what He said when He told His disciples, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel!” (See Matthew 15:24). And, if you are beginning to see this truth, then Jesus would say to you what He said to Simon Peter two thousand years ago, “Blessed art thou…for flesh and blood hath not revealed it (this truth) unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (See Matthew 16:17). Do you appreciate the divine revelation being given to you in such matters, or is it a “ho-hum” affair? “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (See Matthew 13:16-17).
I realize how greatly blessed I am. That is why while others sleep I am awake pondering these great mysteries of God. While others follow the most trivial and passing pursuits I read and ponder the inspired scriptures. Jesus was not one given to exaggeration, and when He says I am more blessed than many prophets and righteous men of old, I believe Him and I deeply appreciate the revelation He has given me and gives me more and more each day.
Long life is PROMISED those faithful to the Lord. In fact, this is a promise expressed many, many times throughout the Bible. “Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many” (Proverbs 4:10). “My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments, for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee” (Proverbs 3:1-2). “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27). “Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings and the years of your life shall be many” (Proverbs 4:10). “Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation” (Psalm 91:14-16). And I could quote a dozen more such texts. The date of one’s death is not pre-set or pre-ordained. Individually we have the power to extend that date or to draw it ever nearer. Though the scripture says “It is appointed unto all men once to die,” it does not say the time or date of one’s death is appointed and cannot be extended. When Solomon asks, “Why should you die before your time?” the context where that question is raised shows that he means behaving foolishly and failing to exercise wisdom can result in one dying prematurely. Heroin addicts die decades before their time. Many teenage drug addicts who over dose and die could well have lived into their seventies or eighties had they never abused illegal drugs.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley