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How Does ‘Âlam Connect Lindsey Graham & The Iran War?

How Does ‘Âlam Connect Lindsey Graham & The Iran War?

Last updated on: September 25, 2026 at 1:01 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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How Does ‘Âlam Connect Lindsey Graham & The Iran War? 2026-09-25T13:01:31-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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This week began with the sad and tragic news about the memorial service in Washington for longtime senator Lindsey Graham. Many in the Southeast, where I live are still getting over the shock of his sudden death; some have even started ludicrous conspiracy theories about him being murdered.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

Since I live not far from the Georgia-South Carolina border, Lindsey Graham was pretty popular in the circles I move in. Perhaps that is why many are struggling with his untimely death. They have forgotten a basic truth about living in this fallen kingdom:

Corrupt
Sinful
Temporary

This became evident during President Trump’s attempt to eulogize his late “Friend” during the memorial service in Washington. The president struggled with the speech that was written for him and decided to be brutally honest for the first time in his life and admitted that the late Sen. Graham wasn’t always well received or liked.

Regardless of what people say when we are alive, the truth comes out at some point, even after we die. Maybe that’s why so many people are afraid of dying. Regardless of what anyone does or thinks, we will all face death at some point, because we live in a fallen world (Ecclesiastes 3:2, Hebrews 9:27). Only God and His kingdom will last forever (Psalm 145:13, Revelation 11:15).

What Is Everlasting

Most people understand that our physical bodies are temporary and, like this world will come to an end at some point. However, our souls are eternal and will last after this world, and our bodies fade (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Image by Pixabay

We are made in the image of an everlasting God, and our spirits last forever just like He does (Genesis 1:26-27, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Everlasting is defined as, “Lasting or enduring for all time: eternal.”

This is why God’s people are told to focus on lasts, instead of the temporary things of this fallen kingdom (Matthew 6:19-21, Colossians 3:2). The Bible has a lot to say about what is everlasting (Isaiah 40:28, Romans 1:20, Titus 1:2, Revelation 4:11).

Before we come to Jesus, we are all dead in our sins and focus on what is temporary (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1-5, Colossians 2:13). Once we come to God and become part of His family, our focus goes from temporary to what lasts (2 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Peter 1:4).

God’s people know this world, and everything it offers will end and God Himself will destroy them (Romans 8:6-8, Philippians 3:18-21, James 4:4, 2 Peter 3:10, 1 John 2:15-17). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about what lasts and their everlasting God.

**‘Âlam

The prophet Moses tells us that God was in the beginning and created everything (Genesis 1:1-31). The first Adam chose temporary greatness and happiness over obeying God, which allowed sin and death into the world (Genesis 3:6-7, 17-19).

Later, Abraham would turn from the idols of his father to the true everlasting God (Genesis 21:33). The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for everlasting is ʿālam, and it can also mean “Ever, old, or never,” depending upon the context it is used in.

Israel and the patriarchs of the faith chose to follow the one true God who is everlasting (Exodus 3:6-15, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 90:2, Isaiah 40:28, Micah 5:2, Malachi 3:6). It is easy to see why Israel gave God the name of El Olam (everlasting God) based on one of His most powerful attributes:

Oneness
Eternal and timeless
Omnipresent
Omnipotent
Compassionate
Forgiving
True

The Jewish prophecies identify the Messiah as an everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus was often called everlasting or the beginning and the end by the New Testament writers (John 1:1; 17:5, Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:10-12; 13:8, Revelation 1:8; 22:13).

Image by Pixabay

Jesus confirmed that His Kingdom is not of this temporary world (John 18:36). Our Rabbi warned us about how this temporary kingdom will end and the signs to look for (Matthew 24:3-31).

He taught His followers to store up treasures in heaven that will last (Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 12:33-34). He warned us about serving two masters and divided hearts (Matthew 6:21-24).

Iran War

In other big news this week, the conflict in Iran has escalated despite the US brokering a second cease-fire to calm tensions in the region. We should have known that President Trump’s promise of an “Everlasting peace” wouldn’t last because he is not God.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

The president wants to do what Scripture says only an everlasting God can do (Psalm 122:6-7, Isaiah 2:4; 9:6-7). Surely Bible-reading conservatives understand that the president’s claims were blasphemous.

Worldly people who focus on what is temporary cannot comprehend what is eternal or of God (Romans 8:5-6). President Trump, like Iran, is focused on the temporary, instead of the things of God:

Love
Peace
Forgiveness

What the president and his followers have failed to learn, like our Jewish forefathers, God gives us strength and power to do great things for God, not ourselves (Isaiah 40:29-31, Romans 8:28, 2 Timothy 1:7).

We aren’t called to rule this temporary and fallen kingdom, but to rule in heaven with God for eternity (Matthew 19:28, Revelation 22:5). Brothers and sisters, we serve a great God, not an earthly idol which will be destroyed one day when this world and everything on it dies (Matthew 24:35, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 21:1).

Both Jesus and King Solomon warned us about chasing temporary things that will not last (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, Matthew 6:19-21). That is why, if America is truly a Christian nation, it will submit to and worship only El Olam!

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