On Location

Growing Daily

Movie fans love tracking down the real-life locations where their favorite scenes were filmed. They’ll walk through the mall parking lot from Back to the Future, run the steps Rocky climbed in Philadelphia, or visit the baseball diamond from Field of Dreams.

Usually they try to find the exact spot and camera angle — just to stand there for a moment and feel connected to the story.

My father used to lead tours through Israel. Instead of movie locations, his groups stood where real biblical events took place: the Valley of Elah where David faced Goliath, the ruins of ancient Jericho, the Sea of Galilee...

He used to say visiting those locations brought the Bible to life. Seeing the geography of Scripture was a reminder that these events happened in real places, among real people, at specific moments in history.

But the point wasn’t simply to admire where God worked long ago. It was to return home with a fresh perspective, ready to trust Him right where we are today.

Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

The God who gave David victory, brought down Jericho's walls, and walked the shores of Galilee hasn't changed. He’s still at work in real places and among real people.

You may never stand where all those biblical events took place. But today, you can walk with the same God who was there.

- Ron Reid