MIDWEEK MEDITATION

In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.  And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

Daniel 8:1-4

Visions of the future give us courage for today. 

Daniel saw an appalling vision. He saw nations rising and falling. He saw violence and corruption. A little horn would come and, with it, bring incredible persecution for God’s people. It was almost too much for Daniel to take. 

We might be tempted to think at this point that Daniel was ready to give up or step back from the hardship to come. But something happened in Daniel when he saw these visions. Instead of slinking back, he actually presses forward. Instead of being gripped by fear, he finds courage. These visions, as difficult as they were, came before and fueled some of the most fruitful years of ministry in Daniel’s life. 

Why? Because visions of the future give us courage for today. 

This vision came just a short while before Daniel’s risky confrontation of the sacrilegious king Belshazzar. Daniel had seen the end. He knew what would happen to Babylon and, more importantly, that the King of Kings had everything in control. 

How does this vision of the future give you much-needed courage for today?