“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest & then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” And so the gorgeous book of Daniel ends. An old man now, body, if like ours, bent & sore, bearing the wear & tear of life in whirlwind & storm.
“Go on living.” Mind you, these words of Godspeed are said to him by a heavenly being hovering over the Tigris River, a being dressed like a priest in linen wearing a belt of gold, face shining like lightning, eyes like flaming torches. Daniel had collapsed facedown at the sight.
He’d had to be brought back to his feet by the glorious being. “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God. Understand the words that I am saying to you. Stand on your feet.” And he had. Shaking like a leaf. “Don’t be afraid, Daniel.” (Dan 10) He’d told him of the conflicts to come.
Conflicts in both the seen & the unseen realm. We are reminded in Daniel that we often have no idea in all the tumult what is going on over our heads beyond our natural sight. Let it be said, Saint, that what we see is astonishingly little of what there is. And yet “Go your way.”
Having been told of unimaginable conflicts to come, Daniel has asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” Isn’t that us even right now? Isn’t that every generation of saints who raises face to the heavens as the earth threatens to explode into a trillion shards?
The response of the heavenly being? “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret & sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed & refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand...
... But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest & then you will stand to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.” Having seen all he’d seen. Having heard all he’d heard. Having beheld beings so glorious & terrifying his body barely survived them.
We have seen no such visions. We have heard no such sounds. But, in many ways, our commission is the same. “Go.” Knowing all the Bible tells us will come to pass. Still, “go.” Though the signs may test & terrify, “Don’t be afraid. Go on your way.” Though wickedness increases, GO.
And God will keep his word. He will see to it & no matter what days we greet & what evil we meet, we hold onto our faith & our integrity in Christ & we keep going on our way & reverberating in our souls is the constant echo of Scripture, “Don’t be afraid.” GO to your last breath.
And then we will rest.
This then bliss.
This then bliss.
