The U.S. Geological Survey placed a historical marker at 39° 50′ 00″ N 98° 35′ 00″ W on June 29, 1941. Located near Lebanon, Kansas, there’s nothing much more to report. The marker is in a typical field and there is currently a very crude sign marking the point. What’s so special about it? It is the exact location “where a plane map of the 48 states would balance if it were of uniform thickness.”1 As the sign says, “Welcome To The Center Of The USA.”
“Coinciding with the establishment of the monument, residents of Lebanon founded the Hub Club to develop the site for tourism, and the Club continues its maintenance and beautification role to this day. At one time, a motel, coffee shop, and souvenir shop served thousands of annual visitors to the site. Today, visitors to the monument at the Geographic Center find a small chapel, a shaded picnic table, a large monument, and the closed motel.”2
However, the United States grew to 50 states in 1959 with Alaska being admitted in January and Hawaii admitted in August. “In 1959, a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey concluded that the new center of the U.S. (excluding territories) had lurched northwest toward the small town of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, which today posts a similar plaque regarding its centralized status.”3
Kansas only held the title of “Center of the USA” for 18 years. Fourche has held the title for 67 years. Who is going to be the 51st state? Will it be one of the territories of the U.S. like Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin Islands? Will it be Greenland? In the span of our lifetime, it’s possible that the marker will change again.
The Bible plants a bit of a different marker for the center of the world. Ezekiel 5:5 says, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.” In the March 2, 2025 edition of Israel National News, an article asked, “Is the Land of Israel the Exact Center of the World?” The answer was, “It is the heart of life – vitality reaches the world specifically through Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel), as the heart pumps blood to the body’s organs. The physical Eretz Yisrael has a special equilibrium, that requires it be at the center of the world.”4 Young Jewish boys are taught and the old reminded that in God’s sight, Israel is at the center of it all.
In the Enduring Word commentary, David Guzik writes, “In both a historical and redemptive sense, Israel has been at the center of God’s plan and work in the world. In some sense, it is also true geographically, as Israel stands at the meeting point of continents and empires.”
Quoting Warren Wiersbe, Guzik continues, “As far as His eternal purposes were concerned, Jerusalem was His city and the center of the nations. ‘Salvation is of the Jews’ (John 4:22). Israel was a privileged people, but privilege involves responsibility and accountability.”5
As you read through the prophetic Scriptures, it is very obvious that the church did NOT replace Israel. Israel is still at the center and a heart of it all. God loves that nation and those people. They are still His chosen nation. And His love has never ended nor wavered.
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, knowing that such peace comes only in the acknowledgement of Jesus as Messiah. 2 Corinthians 3:15-16 says, “But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (16) Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.” That day is coming and coming soon! When it does, we will rejoice in the fulfillment of Isaiah 27:6. “He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.”
1https://clui.org/ludb/site/geographic-center-lower-48-united-states
2Ibid.
3https://interestingfacts.com/fact/the-geographic-center-of-the-48-contiguous-states-is-a-field-in-kansas/
4https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404737
5Enduring Word Commentary, Guzik, David, e-sword.net module
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