What In the World Is Going To Happen?
Daniel 12.8-13
This week’s stock markets and world economy... Rants against Israel continue...
President Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia should unilaterally claim part of the Arctic, stepping up the race for the disputed energy-rich region. Space race, arms race and now the Arctic Race.
Daniel’s last words:
v.8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" That is a question we find ourselves asking a lot these days. We wonder and if we are not careful we can worry. If we worry then we can begin to fret and these are two specific activities we are steer clear of as children of God. We are told not to worry and not to fret.
The Word of God to Daniel and us: vs.9-13
1. Everyone has their way to go
*Go
It is assumed that as children of God, followers of Jesus Christ, we will go. We will move along. “Having gone...” is part of the Great Commission- lit. Movement is part of God’s nature.
*Walk With God
Walk with the LORD. The earliest records of people living in God’s presence is Enoch. Genesis 5.22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
This walking implies a step by step movement. It implies a steady, daily, moment by moment progression. We are in a race but it is a marathon. It is life long.
Walking with Gods takes place in communing with Him in prayer and His Word and His Presence. This is to be a done daily. There is a way God has for us to go and that way includes and is wrapped all around prayer and following His Word.
I love how Daniel is asking worldwide questions and the LORD is bringing home to him personally. He always does this. Peter asked about John and Jesus told him basically Its none of your business- you must follow Me. (John 21.20-23)
*Depart from questions which have no answers!
These things can bring your soul down.
They can have the opposite effect of the Word of God which builds us up. Dwelling on these questions to which there are no answers given can tear down or weaken our faith. (Psalm 73)
*Proceed and move on. Don’t get hung up by these unanswerable questions or problems or sins against you in this life.
Concern yourself with your manner of life in reference to this part of Daniel.
II Peter 3.11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
Responding to suffering- v.10
Purify- cleanse, make bright, test, prove
Refine- come out like gold.
Being holy- seeking to be like Jesus:
I John 2.6 Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.
Those who have the hope of His return:
I John 3.3 Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Lead others to Jesus teaching them to walk with the Master.
First walk ourselves.
Then lead others by our example.
When necessary use words.
2. Every man has an end
We have talked about this before. People are fighting it today- they always have.
We ought to be preparing for it. It is a joy to think about it- Dr. Perkins a few weeks ago.
We are encouraged to live life with this view:
Psalm 39.4 "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.
Psalm 144.4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.
Psalm 90.10 The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
There is a end to time and space that comes at death and another that comes at the resurrection. God has promises and provisions for both.
3. There is a rest provided for the people of God v.13
Rest- settle down, be quiet
This is eternal rest. The battle, the spiritual battle we are in will end forever. We will no longer need to contend with the world, the flesh or the devil.
I’ll be in the battle until the day God calls me home. I am looking forward to laying my armor down one day and being with Jesus forever.
4. There is an inheritance for the people of God v.13
We are going to inherit:
Heaven
I Peter 1.3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Eternal Life in its fullness- right now in a jar of clay.
II Corinthians 4.7 in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Eternity with Jesus and all who have been saved.
I Thessalonians 4.17 And so we will be with the Lord forever.
When we are told to go our way it is a glorious way. What a glory He sheds on our way! We have a fellowship with Jesus that is wonderful. For the believer the best is yet to come. In fact it not yet revealed. God is saving some tremendous surprises for us. I told Emma of one I have for her next time she comes. “Don’t tell me, Poppa!” There is something about surprises and kids... God has many when we get to heaven for His children!
For now go your way.
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