A stronghold overtaken - Fifth in a series

Were you born in Zion? Were you born to Christian parents and taught from infancy that God loves you and Jesus Christ is Lord? If so, you have received an immense advantage. You were born in Zion!

I was baptized as an infant and later taught that one should only be baptized once. Many Christians believe one should only be baptized after a conscious decision to follow Christ. Each side has good points, but remarking here on denominational differences is not the point.

Some are born in Zion in later life. We could say the thief on the cross who hung alongside Jesus was born there that day. (Luke 23:43) I would like to see some friends born there. I wish more people in our ravaged culture and nation would be.

There is a physical birth and also a spiritual birth, for whosoever believes, (John 3:16) and we receive the Holy Spirit without whom we cannot grow up in Christ. But does anyone ever receive Him fully? That is our greatest need.

Psalm 87 celebrates being born in Zion: And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High himself will establish her. The LORD records as he registers the peoples, "This one was born there." (Ps 87:5)

This Psalm speaks of outsiders being born in Zion, even people from Babylon and even Philistines, the heritage of Delilah. (Ps 87:4) How or when this will occur only God knows, but assuredly, we from every nation, tribe, people and language, will be united in a new life. (Rev 5:9; 7:9)

God knows the ones who belong to him (2Tim 2:19) and their names are written in his book (Luke 10:20), a registration that supercedes any baptism or denominational confirmation.

For the Zionist — in the Christian sense of the word, there is no place like home. "All my fountains are in thee." (Ps 87:7)