“And I Daniel alone saw the vision.” How often do we miss the vision? Daniel, like Saul, heard and saw God. The rest heard thunder or saw nothing. What spiritual preparation does one need to see the vision? In the corporate world, those who don’t see the corporate “vision” are asked to leave the company. Yet, the “vision” seems little more than micromanagement or desire for dictatorial control. How do we distinguish between the visionary and prideful control freak? It seems that Daniel’s approach was one of love, humility, with a heart felt desire to understand, like an innocent child who sits in awe at the feet of the Teacher. In his vision Daniel saw the transitory nature of political, tyrannical kingdoms. When they thought they were safe, something went wrong. Even though loyalty will not always be rewarded by those one serves it is noted that the evil man can trust no one, for he has established no basis of trust. It is only a matter of holding men by gifts and percs. At last even those who have been his copartners turn against him. “The people who know their God stand strong.” These are the iron willed men and women upon whom society depends. These people are invincible in defeat. They are not alone. We are never alone. In chapter 12 the thought of immortality breaks into human consciousness. God has made us for eternity. Daniel wants exact answers and precise dates. Don’t we all? Yet, the answers are sealed in the book until the time of the end. Perhaps this is a call to live in the present. In the end, how important will these answers be? Will we be embarrassed that the questions were so trivial? Or will we even remember the questions? Daniel says that one of the main characteristics of wickedness is its power of pretense. Evil ones create a false illusion of freedom by pretending that their slavery is freedom. What am I a slave to? Daniel says that the rewards of God come to the humans who can wait. Do you think more lives are destroyed by impatience than by any other weakness? “But go thou thy way till the end be.” And, then there is rest!
“And I Daniel alone saw the vision.” How often do we miss the vision? Daniel, like Saul, heard and saw God. The rest heard thunder or saw nothing. What spiritual preparation does one need to see the vision? In the corporate world, those who don’t see the corporate “vision” are asked to leave the company. Yet, the “vision” seems little more than micromanagement or desire for dictatorial control. How do we distinguish between the visionary and prideful control freak? It seems that Daniel’s approach was one of love, humility, with a heart felt desire to understand, like an innocent child who sits in awe at the feet of the Teacher. In his vision Daniel saw the transitory nature of political, tyrannical kingdoms. When they thought they were safe, something went wrong. Even though loyalty will not always be rewarded by those one serves it is noted that the evil man can trust no one, for he has established no basis of trust. It is only a matter of holding men by gifts and percs. At last even those who have been his copartners turn against him. “The people who know their God stand strong.” These are the iron willed men and women upon whom society depends. These people are invincible in defeat. They are not alone. We are never alone. In chapter 12 the thought of immortality breaks into human consciousness. God has made us for eternity. Daniel wants exact answers and precise dates. Don’t we all? Yet, the answers are sealed in the book until the time of the end. Perhaps this is a call to live in the present. In the end, how important will these answers be? Will we be embarrassed that the questions were so trivial? Or will we even remember the questions? Daniel says that one of the main characteristics of wickedness is its power of pretense. Evil ones create a false illusion of freedom by pretending that their slavery is freedom. What am I a slave to? Daniel says that the rewards of God come to the humans who can wait. Do you think more lives are destroyed by impatience than by any other weakness? “But go thou thy way till the end be.” And, then there is rest!
ReplyDelete