"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.
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."
Daniel 12:2-3
This is talking about the last days, and of resurrection. I think everlasting life definitely sounds better than everlasting contempt, but the next verse talking about how you tell the difference is really the one that struck me. I love the idea that wisdom and righteous guidance are as noticeable as physical manifestations, and if we learn them, that we will become shiny. :) Maybe that is symbolic, but I prefer to think of it as an actual glow that we will one day be able to perceive when we have learned to be a little bit more like God. Or maybe in the resurrection, just as a side effect of becoming physically immortal. Who knows, but what an interesting idea.
Imagine if internal things like wisdom and kindness and righteousness showed in your countenance on this earth. I mean, I suppose they do, but more so. We would be glowing, just as obvious as Pinocchio's nose, but indicating goodness rather than deceit. The world would be changed quite dramatically just by that one change, would it not? And perhaps we already do shine like that, when we are on the right track--that goodness and being in tune with the Lord can feel palpable, though not quite physically tactile, but nevertheless something that we can feel and know and even connect with on a spiritual level. When we encounter good people, they do seem to shine in a way, because we can feel the goodness of them radiating out and welcoming us in.
Today, let's work on our shininess. Let's seek eternal life and not eternal contempt. Let's confer with God, and seek to learn wisdom, and to help others to turn away from the dark into the brightness of hope and love and goodness that God offers to us all.
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."
Daniel 12:2-3
This is talking about the last days, and of resurrection. I think everlasting life definitely sounds better than everlasting contempt, but the next verse talking about how you tell the difference is really the one that struck me. I love the idea that wisdom and righteous guidance are as noticeable as physical manifestations, and if we learn them, that we will become shiny. :) Maybe that is symbolic, but I prefer to think of it as an actual glow that we will one day be able to perceive when we have learned to be a little bit more like God. Or maybe in the resurrection, just as a side effect of becoming physically immortal. Who knows, but what an interesting idea.
Imagine if internal things like wisdom and kindness and righteousness showed in your countenance on this earth. I mean, I suppose they do, but more so. We would be glowing, just as obvious as Pinocchio's nose, but indicating goodness rather than deceit. The world would be changed quite dramatically just by that one change, would it not? And perhaps we already do shine like that, when we are on the right track--that goodness and being in tune with the Lord can feel palpable, though not quite physically tactile, but nevertheless something that we can feel and know and even connect with on a spiritual level. When we encounter good people, they do seem to shine in a way, because we can feel the goodness of them radiating out and welcoming us in.
Today, let's work on our shininess. Let's seek eternal life and not eternal contempt. Let's confer with God, and seek to learn wisdom, and to help others to turn away from the dark into the brightness of hope and love and goodness that God offers to us all.
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