The next time you’re gazing into the night sky, consider that the closest star beyond the sun is more than forty trillion kilometers away. To reach that star you’d need to travel at the speed of light for more than four years! Incredibly, we can still see its light from earth.
Scientific data like this wasn’t available when Daniel penned his book some 2,600 years ago. Our modern-day knowledge, however, heightens the power of his simile in Daniel 12:3: “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.” An expanded way of stating this is: Those who lead many to righteousness will be like bodies in the heavens that shine their light across countless distances, illuminating worlds and providing beacons in the darkness. What a powerful image!
Daniel brought God’s message to His people exiled in Babylon, a culture where worshiping God alone could be a life-threatening proposition (Daniel 6:13-17). The prophet described the mysterious future of the world and encouraged them to see beyond their present troubles while focusing on the lives of others. Two millennia later, I struggle with doing the same things.
It’s encouraging to remember that we’re made right with God—led to righteousness, as Daniel would say—through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-22). His sacrifice and resurrection give us hope for the future the prophet described. By believing in Jesus and reflecting Him we become “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15).
Our task today is to illumine the path so others can clearly see Jesus. Instead of being flickering stars, may we radiate the God of light who lives within us by His power (1 John 1:5).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 19:15-29
More:
Read Daniel 1 and notice God’s work within his situation (Daniel 1:2,9,17). Even in an oppressive culture, God was in control.
Next:
How have others illumined the path for you to Jesus? How can you be a similar light to others today?
godlove on January 11, 2017 at 5:53 am
Andy, as a man of science myself, I absolutely love your re-wording of Daniel 12:3. It’s scientifically right on point and very explicit about what awaits those who lead others to Christ. An important reminder that we are expected, as saved souls, to help guide other souls to Christ as well. I pray that the Spirit helps me to shine everyday as a light to the world around me in my words and actions. Knowing that God is always at work, even in unlikely situations, we definitely should make the most of every opporutnity to reflect the light of God within us and allow Him to use us to capture more souls. May God’s loving grace keep us all.
andylrogers on January 11, 2017 at 10:47 am
Amen and amen! You’re right about God being at work even in unlikely situations. The life of Daniel testifies to that. 🙂
Gary Shultz on January 11, 2017 at 6:07 am
Hi Andy: I’m certainly no science wiz, but it is also amazing that in our neighborhood system only the sun shines. All of the other bodies reflect the sun’s light, power, and energy. There may be other stars that shine, but to our eyes, when the sun shines none other can be seen. Nothing else compares to what the sun brings to us. And so, we copy that same pattern of reflection. We walk in the light as He is in the light, we walk while the light is present. And thanks for reminding us we are not just light keepers we are light givers by reflecting the light of the Son. As we live in spiritual darkness, may we reflect light, love, and hope. Thanks Andy, thanks for shining.
hsnpoor on January 11, 2017 at 11:42 am
I don’t know or understand the technicalities of what you said here, but I can “apprehend” and visualize the idea that the light, power and energy emitted from the heavenly bodies derive their source from the sun. I love how you bridge that to show how we are powered and lit up by the power and energy of God’s own Son and when He is truly present in our lives, it is Him and not us that is seen. Love that, Gary!
andylrogers on January 11, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Thank you, Gary! Amen to all of this. 🙂
BearPair on January 11, 2017 at 7:34 am
Excellent, Andy… well said! Thanks for reminding us of one of our important roles in this life.
andylrogers on January 11, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Thank you for reading!
gagirllive on January 11, 2017 at 8:22 am
Hi, Andy. Great to read something from you again. We sure do need this encouragement today. We are children of light and of the day, and we need to remember that and walk in that truth. As we continue to abide in the Source of our light, He will make us a lighthouse to guide others to Him. Just by virtue of abiding in His presence, I believe we will reflect to others, sometimes unknowingly, the glory of God. I can recall how others in my life have been a light to me just through my observation of their quiet witness and faithfulness. And what’s even more astonishing is that in some of my lowest seasons of life, when I thought the light in me was barely a flicker, people have shared with me how they’ve seen Christ in me. In a dark world, even a flickering star can Illumine someone’s path, I suppose. Jesus, the Light of the world, never grows dim, however. He brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light, and we can’t hide that light under a bushel, can we? Praying that we’ll be faithful to share His light and love and bring hope to those in darkness around us. Thanks for this encouragement, Andy. Grace and peace to you and everyone today.
andylrogers on January 11, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Hi GaGirllive,
Thank you so much for the blessings and prayers. I’m grateful for your comments here. They are encouraging to me. 🙂
May God use each of us to be light in the darkness. Amen!
Andy
Tom Felten on January 11, 2017 at 8:38 am
Andy, I’m reminded that Jesus called us to be salt and light during our days on earth (Matthew 5:13-16). As the Holy Spirit leads and empowers us, may we preserve what is good and true, while shining in the darkness by what we say and do—reflecting Jesus (the Light of the world).
andylrogers on January 11, 2017 at 12:05 pm
Thank you, Tom. Absolutely. May many more people see Jesus through our too-often flickering lights!