JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS!

News outlets worldwide are attempting to make sense of the disappearance of Malaysian Airline Flight 370. Like the constant drumbeat of a pouring rain, reports continue to pour out, each one inching us toward a heretofore, undetermined conclusion. So I will step out onto thin ice and make a prediction; the most likely answer to what happened to this flight filled with innocent passengers is that it is somehow related to Islamic terrorism. I know I am jumping far ahead of what is publicly known, but the likelihood that it is connected to some form of terrorism is greater than the improbability.

Why would I so quickly go there? Because, like it or not, believe it or not, the world is currently in a war declared and executed by Islamic radicals around the globe.

Years of engagement with the people of the State of Israel has been very instructive for me. The Islamists have made no secret of their objectives. First, the “Saturday people” must be eliminated, then, the “Sunday people.” To grasp the seriousness of their plan one only needs to read the Jerusalem Post. Take a look at the headlines over just two days this week:

“Rocket fired at Israel from Gaza Friday evening despite cease-fire” JERUSALEM POST 3/14/2014

“IDF (Israeli Defense Force) patrol hits explosive device on Lebanese border, fires back” JERUSALEM POST 3/14/2014

“Morocco says breaks up militant cell sending fighters abroad”

REUTERS 3/14/2014

“Rocket from Gaza lands in open area in Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council” JERUSALEM POST 3/14/2014

“IAF strikes targets in Gaza Strip in response to continued rocket fire”

JERUSALEM POST 3/13/2014

“Rocket falls in Eshkol, open field, no injuries”

JERUSALEM POST 3/13/2014

“One injured after car explosion in Netanya”

JERUSALEM POST 3/13/2014

So there. This week, every week in Israel is the same. Yes, I am jumping, leaping and bounding toward unproven, speculative presumption about the missing airliner. I want to be wrong. I hope that I am. But even if I am in this instance, the evidence is clear; there is a sustained, determined battle being waged.

As Christians we are commanded to love and pray for our enemies; and I do. My prayer is that genuine peace; everlasting peace would come and that God’s promises would be fulfilled. I wish no harm on those who hate both Jews and Christians, but their intents must be exposed, their deeds opposed.

So I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I pray that her enemies would be turned aside and that God’s people would flourish in the land declared holy.