Where is our Treasure? 

Temple Mount 

Today was the first time getting to walk through Jerusalem. We started at the Temple Mount, where 7 significant stories took place. This is the place where Abraham was commanded by God to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him. Then we learned of all the temples that were built (and may be underneath) where the Temple Mount stands today, by King Solomon, then Zerubbabel, and King Herod. Although today this place is owned by Muslims who believe that Mohammad ascended into heaven there, it is impossible to ignore and feel God's presence where so many crucial events from the Bible took place.

After we left the Temple Mount, we toured tunnels under the western wall, which would have been the street level in King Herod’s day. Then, the group went to the Western Wall that stands above ground, which is the remaining wall standing of the Temple King Herod built. This place is what is considered to be the “holy of holies” because it is the closest place to the original temple occupied today by the Temple Mount. We then left Jerusalem to go to the Herodian, a grand palace that Herod built for himself, with a private amphitheater, beautiful gardens, frescos, everything a king could want. Years later, Herod order this place to be destroyed and made into a burial site for himself. This caused this place to become an artificial mountain. The biggest eye opener I had today was that Jesus would have seen Mount Herodian, with Bethlehem being so near. Jesus was offered this from Satan, when he was offered all the kingdoms of the world by Satan during His temptation in the wilderness, yet choose to be the humble servant and die on the cross for us.

Standing on the ruins of this once beautiful palace, I was reminded of Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is your heart will be also.” Herod stored all of his treasure on earth, but today the grand palaces of his time are only ruins and rocks. Jesus had no earthly possessions, and stored all of his treasure in heaven, so we could live with him for eternity. Today I was reminded to remember that all the things I store up on earth will one day only be ruins, but the treasure I store up in heaven will last forever. 

Cali Slayden