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Where Is History Headed To?

The Christian worldview tells us that all of history is heading to its final fulfilment because of the decisive victory accomplished by Jesus Christ at the cross. However, it can be difficult to describe what that fulfilment (or consummation) looks like, as the Bible uses much metaphorical language to describe it. But that does not mean we cannot say anything about it.

For this short introduction, where the Christian story is headed to is structured into four categories: its Concept, Content, Characteristics, and Core.

  1. Concept – The Kingdom of God. The Christian story envisions a future where the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of God and of His Messiah. Whereas the kingdom of God was inaugurated at Jesus’ first coming 2000 years ago, it will be consummated in its full glory at His second coming. At this time, all that was broken and torn apart because of sin will be gloriously restored to wholeness.

 

  1. Content – The New Jerusalem. Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22 are like bookends to the whole Bible. It is worth comparing the pictures presented in both. For example, what was once two people in a garden becomes a flourishing city. Whereas there was one tree of life in Genesis, the river in Revelation is lined with the trees of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is nowhere to be found. The name of the city is the New Jerusalem, the place where God dwells with His people.

 

  1. Characteristics – Life, peace and righteousness. Imagine a world where there is no more death and sorrow, where physical and emotional wounds are healed. Imagine a world where wars have ceased and people and creation live in peace and harmony. Imagine a world with no more injustice, oppression and poverty, but instead filled with righteousness and joy. That is the Christian hope for the future when Jesus’ second coming radically transforms this broken world. Our minds may fail to grapple with it, but does it not represent our hearts’ deepest longings?

 

  1. Core – The presence of God. “The dwelling place of God is among mankind!” (Rev 21:3) At the core of the kingdom of God and the new Jerusalem is the presence of God. What began as a presence in the garden was quickly marred by sin, yet God chose to mediate His presence to His people through His covenants. Jesus Christ was the embodied presence of God among us during His life on earth. The Holy Spirit dwells in Christian hearts. But there will come a day when we will stand in the glory of the unabated, unmediated presence of God, and there the greatest hope that ties all Scripture together will be fulfilled as Creator and creation are fully reconciled and restored.
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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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