Rescued and Renewed

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Daniel wrote: I looked around and saw two other people--one on this side of the river and one on the other side. The angel who had spoken to me was dressed in linen and was standing upstream from them. So one of the two beside the river asked him, "How long before these amazing things happen?”  The angel then raised both hands toward heaven and said, "In the name of the God who lives forever, I solemnly promise that it will be a time, two times, and half a time. Everything will be over, when the suffering of God's holy people comes to an end.” I heard what the angel said, but I didn't understand. So I asked, "Sir, how will it all end?" The angel in my vision then replied:  Daniel, go about your business, because the meaning of this message will remain secret until the end of time.  Many people will have their hearts and lives made pure and clean, but those who are evil will keep on being evil and never understand. Only the wise will understand.

Daniel 12: 5 - 10

Daniel was an amazing character in the Old Testament.  He was captured and forced to serve a foreign king, but he stilled served the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and remained faithful in everything he did.  God revealed great things to Daniel over the rest of his life.  In this final chapter of the Book of Daniel an angel answers his question about how it will all end.   The angel said,  “Many people will have their hearts and lives made pure and clean, but those who are evil will keep on being evil and never understand. Only the wise will understand.”

As a follower of Jesus, a pure and clean heart and life is something that is done to you, not by you!  Your life is like a rusty and ruined automobile that is rescued from the junk yard and restored and renewed by the careful hand of it’s new owner!  All the car does is to submit to the process.  The hand of the owner is the one who does the work.  

Jesus followers become pure and clean by the power of the One who rescued them from the “junk yard” of life!  Don’t spend your life seeking to make something good out of your heart.  Instead use all your time seeking Jesus who will transform you into the person that God created you to be!  

“Lord Jesus, I submit my life to You again today so You can restore and remake me into Your image!  May Your Name be praised forever.  Amen.”