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Topic: The Choice Is Yours
[DCLM Daily Manna 14 September 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Daniel 12:1-4 (KJV)
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Key Verse: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).
MESSAGE:
Thomas Paine was born at Thetford, England, in 1737. He lived in the periods of the great Christian revivals by George Whitefield and John Wesley. He lived a life against God and drew many hearts away from Him. At his death, an eye witness said he was to be pitied. Paine’s cries at the hour of death were: “O Lord, help me! God, help me! Jesus Christ help me!” “Oh, but there is no God”. He then retorted, “Yet if there be, what would become of me hereafter?” In terror and agony, his very last words recorded were: “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?” On the other hand, Polycarp one of the disciples of John the beloved, lived a challenging, holy and righteous life during the reign of Emperor Nero in Rome. For this, he was arrested and told to deny Christ. He refused and was burnt alive. His last words were: “O Lord, the Father of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, I thank thee that thou hast graciously, this hour allotted me a portion among the number of martyrs”.
God’s end-time revelation to prophet Daniel shows two fates for the people of this world at the expiration of our lives on earth – everlasting life or shame and everlasting contempt. Finding and maintaining genuine salvation with God through Jesus Christ secures everlasting life for the believers while spurning and rejecting salvation damns the soul to shame and everlasting contempt. Converted souls are expected to propagate the gospel and turn many to righteousness.
We are therefore admonished to be active in personal evangelism. Even though knowledge has increased and many are busy running to and fro, this eternal truth still remains concealed to several people. But it is clearly revealed to us by God’s grace. We need to rest on this truth of the gospel and reach out to those ignorant of the blessed good news.
Thought For The Day: Only Jesus offers the radiance that generates eternal life.
The Bible In One Year: Psalm 131–138
