Mount Hermon

                The Sea of Galilee is a little over 600 ft. above sea level....and about 30 miles to the north lies the mountain range on the border of Syria and Lebanon....of which contains Mount Hermon....which God's Word puts at the northern border of the Promised Land....and of which at its base begins the Golan Heights.
                There are photos in the news today of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu....surround by about twenty members of the Israeli Defense Force....on the highest peak of Mount Hermon....on the Syrian side of the line that divides Syria and Lebanon.
                I am typing here in a location a little over 700 ft. above sea level....and Pittsburgh is roughly 30 miles to the SE. So if I could imagine a 9,000 ft. peak 30 miles away at Pittsburgh....it would be similar to men in a fishing boat on Galilee....looking off to Mount Hermon. I just tried to imagine it....that huge mountain range only 30 miles away....it's difficult to do!
                It is said that wind gusts form on the slopes of Mount Hermon....and then rocket down onto the Sea of Galilee....causing at times severe storms. Well....we Christians know about storms on the Sea of Galilee don't we...for in one biblical instance Jesus was asleep in the boat during a storm.....and in the other both Jesus and Peter wound up walking on the water....and in both cases Jesus calmed the sea!
                Tradition has it that Jesus was transfigured before Peter and James and John on Mount Hermon...."And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves."....Matthew 17:1 ESV.
                 This isn't of esoteric interest....a mystery solved....the Israeli Prime Minister standing on the highest peak of Mount Hermon....as enemy territory has been taken....and at least temporarily Israel's northern biblical border restored....but it is there for anyone to see....and to glean from and take encouragement if they can....as events in the world are moving at an even quickening rate than that which was already fast! 
                  There was a day....oh roughly 40 years ago or so....when Christians would hear or say the Greek word.....maranatha....and an expectant joy would be stirred within them. I know....for I was there! May that word once again....ring in our pulpits....and move us to prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior and King!