Spoiler alert:

At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise.

There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations.

But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book of life—will be delivered.

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Everyone’s seen some version of it before.

The closing credits will be the final scene for some and the beginning for others.

Nothing else will matter. Not the good things you did. Not your generosity or your kindnesses. Not even the best clips compiled from all your years.

Only your conviction and belief that a baby born in a manger long ago was who he said he was and who he came to be was the fulfillment of your hope while visiting this brief chapter of the world.

And the final credits will roll with your name in lights.

I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭8‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Daniel was gifted in the supernatural.

Most of us are exhausted just dealing with understanding the natural world.

We may desire the greater gifts and to be used in ways and circumstances explainable only by divine action, but we either fail to equip or avail ourselves for such appointments or worse, simply settle for a mediocre faith.

I never met a sold-out follower of Christ who didn’t yearn and strive for a more effective Christian life.

Hold on to that desire. Nurture it with every thing you do, every thing you have, and every thing you are.

Your time is coming.

After Daniel both accurately recited and interpreted the king’s dream, the king honored and acknowledged the God of Shadrach, Meschach and Abed Nego.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭46‬-‭47‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But that honor was short-lived as the king’s later demand of them to worship the idol he had made was refused and they were thrown into a blazing furnace, only to survive there in the company of God as man, Jesus.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Their faith and courage served as testimony to the power of their one true God.

Yet even miracles were no match for the king’s pride as we find out later.

Focusing on your past is ego. Focusing on your future is pride. Focusing on your present is humility.