Today we read from Daniel 11:2-35 in the One Year Bible. We read that Daniel gets the DL from God about how there will be three more Persian kings. And this must seem to Daniel like the Persian empire will last forever, right?
But Persia doesn't even exist anymore. One might say that Iran is what Persia once was, but there was a whole lot more to Persia than Iran has, both in territory and in culture.
Following the great reign of Persia came the Roman Empire, and then the Byzantine Empire. And those lasted so long that if Daniel were to see them, he would probably think they'd last forever.
But now they're gone, too. It's tempting to think that the US will last forever, but it's only been around a little over 200 years. Just a blink of an eye compared to Persia, Rome, and Byzantium.
Before long, the US will be just a memory. Don't get too attached, but also don't get too worried about the changes we see. Things will come and go. Kingdoms rise and fall, and pass like the shadows of clouds. Even though it SEEMS like people only live for a few years while their countries live much longer, it's actually the opposite. People live forever, and countries are gone the way of Persia... and most people today can't even tell you what Persia was.
God, thanks for being eternal, and making us eternal. Help us to trust You and not worry too much about politics.
2 comments:
Indeed. There's much to be said for developing - historical perspective? Temporal depth perception?
Well-said.
Amen
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