Scripture On Sundays - This Life and beyond

Why do Christians support Israel and their right to exist?  In this passage from the Old Testament, God promises Abram and his descendants many offspring, food and a homeland of their own. 

God's Covenant with Abram 

5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then He said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to Him as righteousness.

7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it."

8 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"

9 So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."

10 Abram brought all these to Him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half.

11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.

18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.

Genesis 15:5-12,17-18

We're very aware of all our earthly needs of food, clothing and shelter.  Family, friends and our homeland are all important to us too.  But we know evil exists in this world and trials and tribulations will be part of this earthly life also.  Paul writes to the Philippians.... 

2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.

18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.

1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Philippians 3:2,18-21 -- 4:1
 
The gospel from Luke....

 

23 Then He said to them all: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.

25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

The Transfiguration

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, He took Peter, John and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

29 As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

30 Two men, Moses and Elijah,

31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to Him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

35 A Voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him." 

36 When the Voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

Luke 9:23-36