“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (Dan 9:17-19 NIV)
And... the LORD answers. He promises His belief relief both in relief from the consequences they suffer at the time of Daniel's prayer and in the future. The Anointed One, the Messiah, the One who will be put to death for our sakes will come. Along with the Messiah; though, will be war and desolation. We will endure these things until the end.
There has been much debate about the time frame of all of this. The time frame is not one of the priorities that we should focus on. Jesus tells us, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." (Matt 24:36)
Our priority should not be worrying about the last day, but what God calls us to today. Today is celebrated as Reformation Sunday so it is appropriate that we think about what Luther is reported to have said he would do if he knew the world was coming to an end. "If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would plant a tree.” Go about your doing God's will; loving Him and caring for the world that He has created and given you. Live life! He wants you to live an abundant life, enjoying the various gifts that He has given us. Do not fret about losing anything; not even your life, but care for those things that He has given you to care for.
And.. the greatest gift He has given you is a restored relationship with Him and with one another through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus the Anointed one; the Messiah.
God's Peace - Pr. J
