I just finished reading Joel Rosenberg's book Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future. Rosenberg, a Christian Jew, combined his experience in working at various levels of government with the truth of Scripture to interpret current events. He wrote four novels using this combination, and in all four cases, his storyline came eerily true.

Epicenter is Rosenberg's nonfiction book that helps explain and clarify many things we see happening in the world around us. It was Ezekiel's prophecy in chapters 38 and 39 that especially framed Rosenberg's writings. It is there we read: "All nations will see" God's judgment. Rosenberg maintains that with the proliferation of televisions and satellite dishes around the globe, we are now living in history's first age when this prophecy could be truly fulfilled.

Yet Bible history has been heading down this road since the beginning. God turned water into blood before Pharaoh so "you shall know that I am the Lord" (Ex. 7:17). He sent hail so Pharaoh would know "that there is none like Me in all the earth" (Ex.9:14) and so he could know "that the earth is the Lord's" (Ex. 9:29).

Then there was Joshua. God rolled back the Jordan and allowed the Israelites to walk across on dry land so the the people and their children after them "may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever" (Js. 4:24).

And let's not forget Elijah. He offered a burnt sacrifice and prayed " 'Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God . . . " (1 Ki. 18:37). What happened? "Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!' " (1 Ki. 18:39).

God has always done His miraculous works not for miracles sake alone, but so that people watching would know the bigger truth--that He is God! And He used his willing people to accomplish it. Yet only those standing close by became convinced in Pharaoah's, Joshua's, and Elijah's days. And as wonderful as it was, only a few hundred people witnessed Jesus resurrection from the dead and the Holy Spirit when it fell on Pentecost.

But one day, "All nations will see." At that time, "every knee shall bow . . . and every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom. 14:11).

Meanwhile, you and I must continue to do the Moses/Joshua/Elijah works. We must allow those around us to become persuaded by the power they see God manifest through our lives. In that way, we each can keep reaching people, one life at a time. I don't know about you, but that makes me want to stop striving, stop trying to convince--not with my family or those opposing what I believe.

What guidelines replace my striving? I like to use John 12:32. Jesus said," 'If I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.' "

I believe He's saying to you and me, "You do the lifting, I will do the drawing."

Some day, everyone will know. Until then, some will. How many depends on how many of God's people get busy lifting. We lift, and we leave the drawing to Him.