Shining Bright: Daniel 12:1-4
God wants us to be like Him. He forgives us more than we deserve and He desires us to do the same. He loves us more than we deserve and He desires us to love others the same. He sacrifices so we can find Him, often our sacrificial love can help others find Him as well.
Daniel is told that Michael, the archangel, will watch over God’s people. This is an interesting point to consider. We don’t have many stories of angels in the Bible and our knowledge of their role is somewhat limited. The stories we do have indicate that the angels frequently serve as messengers between God and His people. In this passage, though, there is a hint that angels may serve as protectors and watchmen over certain people. This thought agrees with the message in the prior chapter where the angel talks about wrestling against the prince of Persia and getting ready to wrestle with the prince of Greece.
Why will God’s people need protection? Michael will arise because a time of trouble will come for the Hebrew people. This trouble will be unlike any trouble they’ve seen. The Hebrew people have seen bondage in Egypt, they’ve seen constant strife between them and the Canaanites, they’ve seen their people grow into a kingdom only to quickly split into two fragments, and they’ve seen their people go back into exile under Babylon. The Hebrew people know trouble; they understand persecution. When Daniel is told the trouble will be unlike anything they’ve seen, it gives Daniel cause to pause.
Despite the trouble, the people will be saved. Anyone whose name is written in the book of life will find salvation. The dead will be raised; some will be raised into eternal life and some into eternal contempt. There is no universal salvation here. There is no claim that all people go to heaven with God. Those who walk with God and find their salvation in Him while those who are not with God will be raised into their shame and will spend eternity in contemptible situations apart from God.
Daniel is told one more thing. Those who are wise will shine, but those who turn people to righteousness will shine forever like the stars. In other words, those who are wise will find God and walk with Him. They will rise into eternal life with God and shine. But those who help other people also walk with God will not just shine themselves but will shine because others shine. Their ability to help others walk with God will be their glory.
God wants us to choose righteousness. He wants us to shine with Him. That is our greatest individual greatness. But when we show we desire to not only shine ourselves but to help others shine we have the heart of God. When we help other people shine, we are like God, who puts aside Himself to help others find righteousness. God wants us to be like Him.
