Visions and Dreams

Readings for today: Daniel 7-9

If you are like me, you grieve deeply over what you see happening in our nation and around the world. The world is descending into tribalistic chaos. Divisions are turning violent. People have taken to the streets. Not just here in America but around the world. Some of the demonstrations are turning into riots and looting. People are being attacked, hurt, and even killed. It’s a troubling time to be sure.

Daniel lived through such troubling times himself. As he lay on his bed at night, God gave him a glimpse of the future. Kingdoms rising and falling. Great empires clashing. Regular people caught in the crossfire as armies march their way all over the earth. It was a scary time. An unsettling time. A deeply tribal time where conflict and violence were part of everyday life. No one really knew when or where an army would appear on the horizon. No one really knew when allegiances would shift. Safety and security seemed forever out of reach.

In the midst of his nightmarish visions, Daniel receives a Word from the Lord. A Word of comfort. A Word of hope. A Word of security. There is one who reigns over the nations of the earth. One who rules the empires of this world. He is the Ancient of Days and to Him is given all glory and honor and dominion and power. “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened…I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” ‭‭(Daniel‬ ‭7:9-10, 13-14‬)

This is a great Word for us today. In a time when it seems like the nations rage and kings plot in vain against the Lord and against His Anointed, it is comforting to know the Son of Man and the Ancient of Days still sit on their thrones. God is in charge, friends. He reigns and rules supreme. His authority is unquestioned and unchallenged. His dominion is from everlasting to everlasting. There will never be a time when God is not in charge. There will never be a time when God abdicates authority. There will never be a time when God is not at work bending even the sinful, broken ways of His creation to His perfect will. Yes, we are sinners. We have sinned individually. We have sinned corporately. No matter how hard we try, we tend to make a mess of things. Thanks be to God that His love is unconditional. His grace undeserved. His mercies new every morning. God is faithful. He will bring to completion the work of redemption He has begun. This is why Christians throughout history have always declared, “Our only hope in life and in death is that we belong body and soul to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ.”

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 10-12