“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness in the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
Daniel 12:3
We have all heard that phrase “it’s darkest before the dawn.” We most often hear it in the midst of some huge crisis, when we don’t know where to turn. This phrase is usually uttered by some well meaning soul who is trying desperately to sympathize. Daniel, too, had the same experience. Daniel’s last vision leaves him with much confusion as the angel explains what the end times will be like before Christ returns to earth.
We also have many questions because this vision is still future to us. Who is the Antichrist? From where will he come? When will this occur? We, like Daniel, can take comfort in the words of God when he tells us to “rest,” too. As we rest in the knowledge that God is ultimately in control, even when we don’t understand, there are things we can learn about the times we live in.
We do know that wickedness will increase and evil will reign on earth. 2 Timothy tells us that in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, ungrateful, and unholy. They will have no self control, and be treacherous, rash and conceited. We also know that God calls us to be righteous in an unrighteous world. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, so we are called to reflect the light of God’s SON, Jesus, to a dark world. Just like the moon, we can have phases, and wax and wane between them. When we are full of God’s grace and cleansed from our sins, we are fully reflecting God to a dark world. When we are far from God and needing repentance, we can be dark like the new moon and those around us can barely make out God’s light.
What moon phase are you in right now? Are you fully reflecting His glory in a dark world, or are you a new moon barely visible? Daniel 12:3 tells us that those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens. Will you ask God to make you wise so that you may shine for Him this weekend?
We have all heard that phrase “it’s darkest before the dawn.” We most often hear it in the midst of some huge crisis, when we don’t know where to turn. This phrase is usually uttered by some well meaning soul who is trying desperately to sympathize. Daniel, too, had the same experience. Daniel’s last vision leaves him with much confusion as the angel explains what the end times will be like before Christ returns to earth.
