Confident that God's Kingdom Will Come

How sure are you that you will be working at your present job in ten years?  How confident are you that your relationship with your spouse or children will be very close in the next twenty-five years?  How sure are you that all your bills and debts will be paid off by the time you retire?  The only answer any of us can give to these questions is "I hope so."  Someone once said that the only things that are for sure in this life are taxes and death.  Well, if that was all we had to look forward to in life, then no wonder most people today are  stressed out and depressed.  But for a Christian, there is more to life that we can be sure of, and this "MORE LIFE" is found in the person of Jesus Christ, and in His Word, the Bible.  It is in the Bible (like the book of Daniel) that we are given the promise of hope beyond our present conditions.  Hope that looks beyond the systems of government that rule men on this earth to a perfect kingdom whose King is called Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11).

The prophet Daniel is made aware of this perfect kingdom, only after he is given a glimpse of four mighty powers who will rise and fall with the wind (7:2-7).  He is also given a glimpse of Satan's kingdom (7:8,11-12,21-26); yet it too will find itself crushed under the heel of Jesus Christ.  It is only the Kingdom of the Ancient of Days (9-10), the Son of Man (13-14) that will be an everlasting kingdom.  Note, that while man's kingdoms are always filled with conflict and ruin, God's throne is described as tranquil,  just, and triumphant. The Kingly reign of Jesus is described as glorious, universal, and everlasting.  No kingdom on earth has yet to be described this way.  This is why Jesus, who lived during the Roman Empire, commanded Christians to pray looking forward to the day when "God's kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven..." (Matt. 6:10)  If we live our lives today with the promised hope of God's kingdom, then our lives would be less stressful.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.  

Confident that God is in My Tomorrow

How many times do people feel good about the present day they are having, but the uncertainty of their tomorrow steals the joy of living in the present moment.  Yes, uncertainty of tomorrow is a great contributor to much of the stress we humans carry.  Questions like: "Will this relationship last next week?"  "When will the car break down again?"  "How long will it be before I have to look for another job?"  Or, "Will I even be alive to see my grandchild grow up?"  Questions like these flow through each human mind, but the key to living a happy and less stressed life today rest in this truth, "Are you trying to handle your future alone or do you trust in Someone who already walks in your future, who knows each situation that you will face?"  This one that I talk about is the One and True God, Jesus Christ the Lord.  Scripture is very clear when it declares, "Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  (Heb. 13:8)  In Revelation 22:13, Jesus claims to be Alpha and Omega, or the eternal God who has always existed.  This fact alone means that God is outside of time and knows not only every moment in the past and every step you take today, but also knows every event in your future.

In Daniel chapters 7-12, Daniel is reminded of this very important fact about God.  Daniel's desire is to see Jerusalem restored from captivity, and the glorious reign of the Messiah to unfold.  In these final six chapters, Daniel will be shown by God the future path that will befall Israel.  In great detail, God will reveal to Daniel the next three superpowers (Persians/Greeks/Romans), and even a glimpse of the final anti-Christ's kingdom, that has yet to be experienced today.  God will prove to every reader that He alone is in control of every worldly kingdom that is established; and just as quickly as they enter the picture they are destroyed by another power.  Yet no matter how evil or strong the earthly kingdom, we are reminded that there will be a fixed time in man's future in which God's eternal Kingdom will be established under the rule of Jesus Christ (7:13-14), and this kingdom will the the only "forever" kingdom.  When a person's faith and trust is placed in the true King of kings and Lord of lords, then no matter what happens in our future, you will have a less stressed life than those without the hope of a heavenly kingdom.  Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.