The Late Scottish minister and author, William Barclay, told what is regarded as one of the great disasters of history which took place in 1271. In 1271, Niccolo and Matteo Polo visited the Kubla Khan, who at that time was a world ruler. He ruled all China, India, and the entire East. The monarch was attracted to the story of Christianity as Niccolo and Matteo told it to him. And he said to them: "You shall go to your high priest and tell him on my behalf to send me a hundred men skilled in your religion and I shall be baptized. And when I am baptized, all my barons and great men will be baptized and their subjects will receive baptism, too, and so there will be more Christians here than there are in your parts". Nothing was done for about thirty years! Eventually, two or three missionaries were sent - too few and too late. Situation had changed. Consider what a difference to the world it would have made if in the thirteenth century China, India and the East had been given to Christ! Squandered privilege!

When it comes to this, Israel is a case in point as depicted in today's text. They disappointed God. Jerusalem was designed, geographically, constitutionally and spiritually, to be the centre of the whole earth and lighthouse to point direction to other nations. Instead of serving as spiritual benefactor to other nations, Israel slipped into idolatry and rebellion against God. In turn, they earned His severe punishment. 

Today, Christians are the light of the world and salt of the earth. They are ”a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” whose holy lives should shine as a light in honour of God. Israel missed it and got punished. If one backslides and becomes profane, ”of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought...?” (Hebrews 10:29)