The Shining Light

Proverbs 4:18 states, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

In Daniel 12:3 we see that not only will the path of the just shine, but so will the traveler on that path. “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.”

Am I shining? Are you shining? When others look at us do we shine more than our neighbors? In our nation, the middle of the road is getting hard to travel. Wickedness is being called out and the wicked are rising up against it. It is tempting to hide from it all, stay in our house unnoticed. In Daniel 11:32 we have the answer, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

One of the definitions of “exploits” is “heroic acts.” Over the generations, God has called on many to be heroes of the faith. Is our generation different? Is a heroic act today to go to church while our neighbors watch?

“During the latter stages of World War II, Japanese pilots known as kamikaze pilots, deliberately flew their planes into enemy ships or other targets, sacrificing their lives to inflict damage” (Google AI). In junior high school I saw a film of one of these pilots taking off on his mission. While the plane was running, they covered him with a white cloth and spoke some last words to him. He shook his head yes and took off, never to return again. The plane didn’t necessarily destroy the ship. The thing that impressed me was that he would give his life for something he believed in. Would I do that?

What happens to those strong people of God in Daniel 11:32 that do exploits? The following verse says, “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.” Why would God let this happen? Verse 35 says, “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” (This is repeated in Daniel 12:10.)

What does it mean that “…they that understand among the people shall instruct many” (Daniel 11:33)? As we have noticed in Daniel 12:3, it is “they that turn many to righteousness.” If we will do that, how do we go about it? First of all we must be righteous—not our own righteousness, but Christ living in us. Without this we can help no one. Then we must commit ourselves to a death mission. We must die to self and let Christ resurrect us. We must then let him fly the plane. In Daniel 12:1 we see that there is a time of trouble coming. The promise is that God will deliver His people, every one that is written in the book, that is. It doesn’t matter if they are dead and in the dust. He will bring them forth to everlasting life. There will be others also raised from the dust only to go to shame and “everlasting contempt” (V.2).

On that “perfect day” mentioned in our text, we can be among the just if we have been walking on the path of the just. Heroes come forth! Lord, help us to be your SHINING LIGHT!