Because of man’s unquenchable interest in knowing about the future, there’s a strong tendency to be so taken up with knowing God’s future plan that we miss obeying God’s present plan. We get so absorbed with trying to figure out end times that we fail to do what God is asking of us in this present time. Peter warned us not to forget that “a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” (II Peter 3:8). “Since everything around us is going to be destroyed… what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along.” (V:11-12). Our attention is not to be on either/or – but both. When Jesus affirmed the promise of the kingdom in Luke 22:29-30, his disciples became curious and asked him when all this would happen. Jesus responded by telling them not to speculate about such things but to keep busy doing the work He left for them to do. (See Acts 1:6-8) Their primary job was not to be foretellers but truth tellers – faithfully proclaiming the good news and adding people to the kingdom of heaven. What was it that made men like Daniel and the Apostle Paul effective in ministry? They were resolute and determined. Both of them lived in alien cultures among people whose thinking, values, actions, and goals were totally different and opposed to theirs. But they didn’t let that sway them. Both were resolute on doing the work God had asked of them regardless of the pressures of the culture around them. (Daniel 1:8; Acts 26:19) Dailey and Vincent expressed it this way in their song “I Am Resolved:” “I am resolved no longer to linger, torn by the world’s delight. Things that are higher, things that are nobler; these have allured my sight.” As we enter another year, some carry into it deep regrets that their lives have been sadly taken up with all kinds of other totally secondary things. The good news for all of us is that “today is the first day of the rest of our life.” What we did yesterday is history. And there’s not one thing we can do now to change it. However, the future lies before us like uncharted waters and the clear pages of a book still waiting to be written. How grateful we ought to be that the Almighty God of heaven and earth takes upon Himself the seriousness of his titles. Titles like Creator, Jehovah God, Redeemer, Holy One of Israel - to oversee history and care for his people. (Isaiah 43:14-21) In the short chorus seldom sung anymore, one of D.L. Moody’s associates, Philip P. Bliss, presents this challenge: “Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known.” Are you ready? God is looking for resolute people. Be blessed my friend. Glen (Pitts) The Barnabas Group / Loads of Love Ephesians 6:10-13; Phil. 1:20; Hebrews 12:1-3
