(Insights are inspired by Mr. Paul Hawkins statement, "In the beginning.... God.")
In the beginning, God.. Theism starts with God and ends with Him. Most Bible believing Christians know this.
In the beginning, God.. Theism starts with God and ends with Him. Most Bible believing Christians know this.
But what does the rest of the world believe?
From the perspective of most historians, their history starts when a certain culture came to their land, and assimilated their previous culture. History spoke of what happens in their past.
But the true origins of their lives began way beyond what their history books tell them. It began with “In the beginning, God..”
The absence of the perspective of a living God in most stories told by historians shows the condition of the human heart, and condition of our world that God has created.
Had Alexander the Great read the prophecies of Daniel in his book chapter 11, he would have known that he will die without an heir, and that his vast kingdom will be given to four (4) of his generals. He would have produced at least one child to inherit all greatness that he had accomplished in his short time.
Had Berenice (verse 6), daughter of Ptolemy II, king of the South know that she would be given in marriage and would be murdered afterwards, she would have saved herself.
Had Antiochus and Ptlomey know that their both faking a friendship for both their advantage, they would have devised a better plan to trick the other one (verse 27).
Had the “kings of the north” (Syria) and the “kings of the south” (Egypt) saw their defeat under an “iron and clay” empire (Romans) and was written some 536 B.C. (some 200 to 300 years before they were all alive on earth) had they known that the God of Israel “knows” what fate would all they have, they would have worshipped this God that protected Israel all those years.
But then again, the prophecy said that the end will still come at an appointed time (verse 27).
When King Cyrus of Persia was shown all these prophecies during his time, that his name was written a hundred years before he was born, and that he was called to RELEASE the captive Israel to go back to their homeland, he obeyed and issued a decree accordingly. He is now known as the first to uphold Equality and Human Rights.
Had Berenice (verse 6), daughter of Ptolemy II, king of the South know that she would be given in marriage and would be murdered afterwards, she would have saved herself.
Had Antiochus and Ptlomey know that their both faking a friendship for both their advantage, they would have devised a better plan to trick the other one (verse 27).
Had the “kings of the north” (Syria) and the “kings of the south” (Egypt) saw their defeat under an “iron and clay” empire (Romans) and was written some 536 B.C. (some 200 to 300 years before they were all alive on earth) had they known that the God of Israel “knows” what fate would all they have, they would have worshipped this God that protected Israel all those years.
But then again, the prophecy said that the end will still come at an appointed time (verse 27).
When King Cyrus of Persia was shown all these prophecies during his time, that his name was written a hundred years before he was born, and that he was called to RELEASE the captive Israel to go back to their homeland, he obeyed and issued a decree accordingly. He is now known as the first to uphold Equality and Human Rights.
Cyrus Cylinder. One of the existing evidence that dates back to King Cyrus’ time, where inscriptions in cuneiform script stated the Babylon’s defeat under his reign.
United Nation has declared the cylinder as an “ancient declaration of human rights” since 1971 approved by then Secretary General Mr. Sithu U. Thant.
If you will read Daniel 11 and cross-referenced it to a history book, you'll be amazed on how Daniel wrote his prophecies regarding these empires in full detail. All 45 verses spoke of the future of Daniel's time, yet to happen.
Today, we have the privilege to see the accuracy of Daniels prophecy.
GOD IN OUR BEGINNING AND OUR END
Daniel 11 prophecies included a part of our past now. However, it also a prequel to a part of our future (Chapter 12)—the coming of God's only Son, the restoration of His people, and the defeat of His Enemy. This is the glory of God’s History—presence of a promise. This is the Hope that burns in the heart of every believer of the risen Christ, that someday, somehow every story of every person, every difficultly, every disappointment, every hurt will come to an end, the restoration not only God’s Creation, but the restoration of our Being.
One thing that I haven’t written yet is the presence of The Adversary in this Great Story of God. He is inflicting suffering to the Beloved of God, His creation and His Image Bearers (humans). As Beth Moore and John Eldredge would have said, "The enemy is on long leash", but in a leash, nonetheless.
We have this Hope in us, that victory is already won on the Cross where Jesus died, and our power from the Grave that Jesus has risen to. This is our hope, and the power that moves us to keep on pushing forward.
But how about the rest of the world? Do they know what’s ahead of them? Do they know that their origins come from a loving Creator, and that our sole purpose of existence is to glorify Him? Do they know the impending doom of those who will not choose Him?
A lot of the people in this world hold a basic belief that they are on their own. Carl Sagan once wrote upon seeing the Pale Blue Dot of Earth in the vastness of the Universe:
"Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves."
"That's here, that's home, that's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives.." ~Carl Sagan referring to the famous photograph of Earth (encircled speck) by Voyager 1 last 1990, some 6.1 Billion kilometers away from us.
Humans have spawn the remaining of their years on earth trying to create their own meaning and purposes to pursue, insisting values on their existence, hoping with all their might that it will make life worthwhile for them to live in.
But a lot of us find life meaningless somehow. We feel bored. Others feel tired. Very tired. Is it because the idea of a Creator is not remembered as what the author of Ecclesiastes encouraged us to do? So as not to render life as meaningless? Have we truly fail to look beyond the heavens, and have focused our eyes on everything under the sun, and have forgotten the author of our history?
God in History. Putting God in the right perspective, when we look at our History, will put our sights on the right future. This in turn will put our priorities in the right direction. Our real purpose, our real value as Image Bearers will bring the glory God is meant to have.
God in History. Putting God in the right perspective, when we look at our History, will put our sights on the right future. This in turn will put our priorities in the right direction. Our real purpose, our real value as Image Bearers will bring the glory God is meant to have.
To God Be the Glory!
(This blog is to pool people to intercede for the field of academe to be used as a platform to till the soil of the hearts of this generation, in preparation for the Second Coming of God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Suit Up! We are at War!)
Written: July 09, 2011
