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Tuesday, November 27, 2007

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Daniel 2:31-45
Daniel 3:57-61
Luke 21:5-11

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social insecurity

"The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future; this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure." —Daniel 2:45

Nebuchadnezzar had a vision representing the destruction of the Babylonian, Median, Persian, and Hellenistic empires (Dn 2:31ff). Hundreds of years of world history were reduced to nothing. Jesus expressed a similar revelation concerning the Temple. He prophesied that the five-hundred-year-old Temple would be utterly destroyed, with not one stone left on a stone (Lk 21:6). This prophecy was fulfilled in detail in 70 A.D., less than forty years after Jesus announced this shocking revelation.

There's no security in military power, the governments of the world, or the most prodigious wealth. There's no security in social security or even in religious organizations. We must pray with the psalmist: "Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from Him comes my hope. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Stronghold; I shall not be disturbed" (Ps 62:6-7).

We must totally give our lives to Jesus. Thus we will "build a secure foundation for the future, for receiving that life which is life indeed" (1 Tm 6:19). In His word, He promises: "The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people...and it shall stand forever" (Dn 2:44). We can count on having nothing to count on but the word of God.

Prayer:  "I love You, O Lord, my Strength, O Lord, my Rock, my Fortress!" (Ps 18:2-3)

Promise:  "But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth." —Dn 2:35

Praise:  Ann and Joseph, a young engaged couple, built their relationship on Jesus the Rock.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape Developing A Deep, Personal Relationship with Jesus on audio AV 52-1 or video V-52.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 2007

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