Their Appointed Times
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“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” – Acts 17:26, NIV
“Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.” – Daniel 11:45b, ESV
One of the key reminders for the people of God in any age that emerges from Daniel 11 is that our God is in control of the times and seasons, as well as the rise and fall of empires, nations, and the women and men who rule them. How terrifying it must have been to live under Hitler in World War II, and yet, almost no one still living has first hand memory of those dark days. For his days (and that generations day) is numbered. And while it is hard to imagine a more evil person, one of the limits to his evil was his finitude. The same can be said of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. And for those living in and around Jerusalem at the time of his reign, it had to be of some comfort to read Daniel’s vision. Every ruler, no matter how grandious or full of themselves, comes onto history’s stage but for a season. And then, their end comes and life moves on, under the eternal dominion of our God. And while that understand can lead to a certain kind of detached cynicism and deterministic drudgery- imagine a person living out the creed- “Who cares God will do as He pleases in the end.” it instead should be to us a anchor and motivator. What better way to live than knowing that God is in control? When things seem unhingned and everything seems to be in flux, how better to steady our anxious souls than to call this to mind: eternal dominion belongs exclusively to our God. More over, God has given each of us a season, a moment, this moment called today. And, He anticipates us actively engaging in His purposes for the good of others. What an exciting way to live in a world gone mad! We can and do have purpose beyond that which any earthly power can decree or deny. We also have so much more to live for than earth’s little while. We are in an exclusive postion to make the most of every opportunity life affords. Why? Because, we alone have the eternal perspective we must bring to each moment to make it worthwhile. May God help us as we live in our season for the sake of Jesus.
Questions:
Do you tend toward cynicism or carelessness in your approach to life? How will you correct course?
What hard or evil thing do you need to re-frame in light of God’s eternal dominion and your eternal life in Jesus? What will help you keep the hard in a better perspective as you go forward?
Blog Bonus: Below is a chart from Calvary Portsmouth Church (UK) detailing part of the history that Daniel 11 outlines.
Credit: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/daniel-ch11/