Here Today, Here Tomorrow
Bunker in Normandy
Can you imagine something that lasts forever?
On June 6th, we will recognize the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the day the Allies invaded Normandy in France, storming the beaches in a battle that took thousands of lives. The beach was fortified by hundreds of bunkers manned by Nazi soldiers with large guns able to hit targets up to 20 miles away.
Hitler was determined to defend his dominion, to create an enormously powerful reign that would last a thousand years. But those whose lives were sacrificed that day had other ideas. There would be no lasting reign of terror.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed. - Daniel 7:14
In today's Old Testament reading, Daniel has a vision. His vision is of a reign that will last forever.
It is a bold statement to make, that a man would be given possession of all the earth, to be ruler of all people. It is a scary thing, isn't it?
I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.
But we Christians interpret this vision as foretelling of the coming of Christ in the person of Jesus, the one who is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe this because Jesus lived, and we believe it because he came back from the dead to tell his disciples he would never leave them.
It may be hard to believe that the world has reached the point where there is one ruler over all nations. Our inhumanities against each other are proof that we do not all hold to the same belief in loving each other and living in harmony, things we ascribe to Jesus as the Prince of Peace, and it would be a disservice to all who died in defense of freedom to think that fighting against evil is no longer necessary.
It is painful to know that anyone can take another's life, and yet it happens every day. It is only when the circumstances are bizarre, excessively brutal, or the victims are young or innocent that we sit up and take notice, and even in that, we are becoming immune to it all.
If we truly believe that God is good and life is precious, that this world is under one dominion of love and truth, we should start acting accordingly.
I don't know what that would look like.
Do you?
More to come...
Image Copyright: alein / 123RF Stock Photo