This Old Man
The Ancient of Days knows that in the timelessness before creation he took a moment of time to stop and think of you, plan for you and carefully record your name in the book of life.
Why have Judgment Day and the end of the world always been such attention grabbers? To the world they represent dramatic action, superstition, and a cataclysmic battle between good and evil that simply must be seen (and, of course, scripted into a multi million dollar book series or movie). To believers Judgment Day and the end of the world are the finish line to a marathon race, the joyful end when we finally fall into the arms of a waiting Savior having won the victory over sin, Satan, and death.
To both a world thirsty for delightful entertainment and believers who hunger to spend eternity with God, Judgment Day and the end of the world are events so far into the future and so foggy with unclear interpretation that any little detail of helpful explanation is as valuable as a road sign when you’re lost. One road sign is a portion of God’s Word recorded in the book of the prophet Daniel, chapter 7. It pictures not a string of Judgment Day events or a list of top secret details about the end of the world, but it focuses our attention on a figure. An old man to be exact. What kind of confidence can we get from an old man when it comes to Judgment Day?
Well, in order to be perfectly precise, Judgment Day needs a judge who has complete knowledge. After all, he will be pronouncing a sentence of heaven or hell on each individual so he better have his facts straight because he only has one chance to get it right. He holds the eternal destiny of the human race in his hands!
But this old man knows everything about everyone. He knows which toothpaste you use. He knows you’d rather get a silly birthday card than a serious one. He knows how much ketchup you like on your hamburger. And he knows about that time you knocked your mother’s favorite candle holder off the shelf and it cracked but you didn’t tell her. Uh oh. Yeah, he knows it all. Others may not know your secret sins but he does. Your friends at work may not think that your wild weekend was immoral but he does. Your conscience may not be convinced that it’s wrong to think selfish, lustful, or greedy thoughts but he is. "O, Lord, you know me,"the Psalm writer confesses, "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar … you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord" (Psalm 139:1-4). He knows it all. Are you prepared to face this all-knowing judge at the doors to eternity?
Yes.
This old man, called "the Ancient of Days" with his white hair, knows much more than your sin and guilt. The Ancient of Days knows that in the timelessness before creation he took a moment of time to stop and think of you, plan for you and carefully record your name in the book of life. The Ancient of Days remembers the day the Son of God was sent away from heaven for a while on a rescue mission to save sinners. The Ancient of Days has been around a long time and he understands everything about fixing your guilt with forgiveness forged at the cross of Jesus Christ.
The Ancient of Days, even though he knows billions of people, recognizes you as one of his own; "the Lord knows those who are his," the Bible promises (2 Timothy 2:19). The Lord knows. What a comfort for each day. What a relief for Judgment Day!
PRAYER: Dear all-knowing God, even the bytes of information stored in your omniscient essence are used to save and strengthen me! Your mercy knows no end. During these end times as I peek around the corner anticipating Jesus’ return, I admit that sometimes I am fearful and faithless. Comfort me with loving reminders I hear in your promises. Inspire me with calls to action I hear from your commands to do what is good. And keep me safe today and for eternity. Amen.