Skip to main content

Shine On!

Several months ago, as we were moving headlong into the election season, I published a post highlighting Daniel's prayer for the nation of Israel. On this day after the election, my reflection turns to the second half of Daniel 9 - the answer to his prayer.

In verse 20, Daniel says, "I was still confessing my sins and those of all Israel to the LORD my God, and I was praying for the good of His holy mountain, when Gabriel suddenly came flying in...". Can you even imagine! If I were in the middle of a prayer and Gabriel decided to drop by, I don't think a vision would be necessary! I would just die right there! What particularly catches my attention here is that Daniel was STILL confessing. He was making sure every last sin was accounted for. Not only for himself, but for the nation of Israel, too. We have much to ask forgiveness for and this nation is not going to change without the continual confession of God's people. No political candidate is our saviour. Only Jesus is our Saviour and only He will turn the heart of this nation around.

As Gabriel begins to talk to Daniel, he describes a vision of the future. I will not get into minute details of that here because it can be very confusing. What I will tell you is that he gave Daniel a timeline for future events in Israel's history that can be calculated down to the exact day. He told Daniel there would be a certain number of years from the decree to rebuild the temple until the Messiah was presented. From the day Artaxerxes issued the decree until the day that Jesus road into Jerusalem on the donkey was EXACTLY that number of years. Not one day more. Not one day less.

What implication can this possibly have for you and I? On the day after a difficult election, when many are confused and concerned, we can KNOW this:
  1. God is in control of history. All through Scripture we see example after example of God using pagan kings to accomplish His purpose. We can take heart in knowing that no matter who thinks they are in control, God is using them to accomplish His purpose and plan in history.
  2. God's promises are dependable. All of the past prophecy in Scripture has been fulfilled 100%. This can only lead us to the conclusion that all future prophecy will be fulfilled, too. We know the end of the story!
  3. God's timing is precise. God has a plan and there is a precise time schedule for that plan. We do not know all of the exact events and where they land on God's calendar, but He has given us signs to watch for in His Word. We can know that we are currently exactly where He has placed us for this time. Who knows? Maybe like Esther, you and I are here 'for such a time as this'.
  4. Jesus is the undeniable King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No one else could have fulfilled this prophecy as Gabriel described it. Jesus is the only one who fit the bill. He is the Messiah and He is coming back for His bride!
Are these dark days? Maybe. If your candidate lost, you might see them that way. If your candidate won, maybe not. Either way, Christians are called to be salt and light and as Dr. Lewis said in his blog this morning, "the darker the night, the brighter the light shines!"  Shine on!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Leaving Your Nets

Matthew 4:20 "AT ONCE they left their nets and followed Him (Jesus)."  Matthew 4:20 records the response of Peter and Andrew to the call of Jesus to be his disciples. They literally walked off the job and into ministry. We have the advantage of viewing this story with hindsight and the scripture, but Peter and Andrew were in the moment... Jesus was a hometown boy, a carpenter. He hadn't really started his ministry, yet. Surely he had been preaching in the area and the disciples knew what kind of man he was. But still... Fishing was a major industry around the Sea of Galilee and most fisherman belonged to family owned business. Can you imagine old Zebedee's face when somebody walked in his "office" and told him Peter and Andrew had taken off with the new preacher? How do you go home and tell your wife that you walked off the job for a ministry with no pay? How do you feed your kids? Their security was gone. Their income was gone. Possibly a few r...
15 comments
Read more

Love's Pure Light

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 I have a confession.  I have been more than a little 'bah humbug' this year. I don't really know why. We are settled in our new house this year. Grandkids have come and gone and are still coming and going. It's been a beautiful, tropical Florida Christmas season. We did a great program at our church. And, yet, I'm just not feelin' it...  Until tonight. Tonight was our annual Christmas Eve candlelight service at church. It is undeniably one of my favorite services every year and is always packed. Tonight was no different.  During the weeks leading up to the holiday, our pastor has been preaching a series of sermons called "The Light of Christmas" from the first chapter of John. Our Christmas musical was also themed around the light. And tonight, I saw the light. Because I was singing with our Praise...
9 comments
Read more

Mary, Mary, Never Contrary

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.' " Luke 10: 38 - 42 No one has ever accused me of being a Martha. Don't get me wrong. My house is clean - sort of - and I can cook you a great Southern meal if you come over for dinner. I just hope you feel at home enough in my house to get up and refill your own sweet tea. (Glasses are in the top cabinet to the left of the stove) I believe I have always had a...
6 comments
Read more