Daniel 11:3-4 Then
a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After
he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four
winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the
power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to
others.
250 years before Alexander the Great
began his conquest of the mighty Persian Empire, the prophet Daniel spoke about
him in a vision. For some people that might just be coincidental, but for most
Bible believers, it’s the amazing way that God works throughout history.
People tend to think that history is
largely circumstantial, just a random sequence of events that keeps marching on
from one generation to another. But if we are Christians and believe that God
has actually created Time and Space, then isn’t it more than possible that God
grants prophets like Daniel visions, dreams, and clues about what is yet to
come? In fact, a large portion of what we read about Christ in the Gospels had
already been prophesied and alluded to before He was even born in Bethlehem.
Why does God do this? For two basic
reasons:
a)
to
show us that He is in control of Time and History;
b)
to
prepare His people for what is yet to come.
As we spin across the Milky Way on this third
rock from the sun, we may think that we are inconsequential in a universe that
is teeming with billions of galaxies, as well as billions upon billions of
stars. And yet, when we consider that our beliefs are centered upon the Creator
of the Cosmos, who sent His Only Son to die for the people on this paltry
planet, we should quickly understand that we are not alone, nor are we
unimportant to God. Alexander the Great’s empire may have gone forever and he
is turned to dust, but Christ’s Kingdom remains on Earth and we await His
prophesied return.
Questions for personal reflection
What historical
event or period in history captures my attention? Where do I see the hand of
God operating there?
Prayer: Lord God, You are in control of time
and space, as well as history and geography because You created everything. We
know of Your existence through the wonderful works of creation that surround
us, all over this planet and throughout the entire universe. We thank You for
the great gift of Life and we praise You for Your oversight of who we are, what
we do, and of what we have yet to experience. Be with us and bless us forever.
In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin
Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment
on today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is one of John’s Scottish drawings. It features the Abbot’s House on the
grounds of the medieval ruins of Crossraguel Abbey, near Maybole, Scotland. If
you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4121/4750541985_53ed2bfa13_b.jpg
