Daily Devotional

You Can Live Beyond Headline Hysterical!

by Jack Graham

If you’d like to hear more messages on courage, faith, and prophecy, then you can purchase the CD series, “Daniel.” In this CD Album, Jack Graham shows how living with heaven in mind can radically transform your life today. Click here to purchase your copy today!

A lot of people these days are wringing their hands about the future. And it's easy to understand why.

From the conflict in the Middle East and the war on terror…to the constant threat of natural disasters at home and abroad…to the increasing sexualization of our culture…even to skyrocketing gas prices…there's plenty of evidence that these are troublesome and unsettling days. And as a result, many people are very tense about the future.

But I want you to know that you don't have to walk around with headline hysteria.

You don't have to fret or worry about what the future holds because God has given you and me a clear picture of what the future will look like. Yes, we may face trials and tribulations and temptations in the here and now, but take heart! You and I have great hope as believers in Christ.

One very vivid picture of this hope is found in the Old Testament book of Daniel.

Now, some have said that Daniel is to the Old Testament what Revelation is to the New Testament. Both books are apocalyptic, meaning they unveil or uncover messages regarding the future and the end times.

And in the second chapter of Daniel, we find one of the most remarkable prophecies in all of the Word of God. You probably remember the background story from your days in Sunday school.

Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, had been taken along with other captives into the land of Babylon. There they were forced to learn the ways of the Babylonians and the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar.

But while they were in Babylon, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood firm in their faith and purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves. And as a result, God honored them by elevating them to a place of prominence in King Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom.

It was at this point that God gave Daniel the opportunity to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream…which was a prophecy of what the future held.

Now, I don't have the room here to unpack everything in Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream. But I do want to focus your attention on two things Daniel said in his interpretation that should encourage you today…no matter what you may be going through or how dark the future may look to you right now.

1. There is a God in heaven who personally controls your life.

Daniel 2:28 says, "…there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days."

Do you see what Daniel is saying here? There is a God in heaven! I don't care what you're facing…whether it's a marital crisis, a financial crisis, or a health crisis…there is a God in heaven who personally controls every aspect of your life. So look to Him and trust in Him!

2. There is a God in heaven who will forever rule and reign.

Daniel 2:44 says, "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever…."

Even though there is panic in the world…even though there is war and disaster and sickness and death…there is peace in the heart of the believer because we've read the final chapter.

You know, there are two kinds of religion in the world today. One is spelled D-O and the other is spelled D-O-N-E. Do or done!

Either your religion is one of do…do this if you want to be saved or keep this commandment in hopes you'll be saved or do this religious exercise and perhaps you'll be saved.

Or it's one of done…the finished work of Jesus upon the cross!

Today, it's my prayer that you will trust in Christ's completed, finished work on the cross, and that you will take heart from the words of the prophet Daniel. As a believer, you have a God who personally cares about you and what you're going through. And one day, you'll rule and reign with Him forever!