What Will The Outcome Of All This Be?

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” —Daniel 12:3 NIV

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic life has ceased as many have known it. What the world is calling a new normal — stay-at-home orders, businesses anxiously awaiting to reopen, school systems closed with distance learning, and other closures in effect until further notice this is truly a time to seek the Lord. Have you ever had to home school a 5 year old via distance learning on FaceTime? Oh my!

Not only the that — having to wear protective gear such as face masks and gloves while shopping at the grocery store, drugstore or other stores that are open at this time.

Compounding that are today’s headlines informing us about the current unemployment rate, global death toll, and protests and lawsuits because people are anxious to get back to work, businesses are suffering from the impact of having to remain closed until further notice and requiring approval from state and local governments before reopening,  churches unable to physically gather for religious services, the lack of early response to spread of Covid-19 and ongoing disruptions in our political system. Many wonder will things ever return to ‘normal’ again?

Normal: conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern

This morning I was reading the phased approach providing guidance on what we’ll   be able to do when the state of Maryland reopens. I thought to myself “what is the Lord saying today?” I love it when the Lord hears my thoughts and provides me with some guidance as to where to direct my thoughts and what to share with others in light of our present circumstances.

Many encouraging words have gone out from well respected seasoned prophets. As I was pondering this thought I received an email from one of my mentors on “A Journey with the Holy Spirit”. One of the topic I’ll be sharing on in future posts and broadcasts.

What captured my attention in this post was this: “the need of the hour is for INSIGHT!”  I whole heartedly agree. We need insight and wisdom from the Holy Spirit on how to navigate at this present time. “…if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.” — James 1: 5 TPT

Insight: the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing.

The author, James Goll said, “Consider some of the promises for those who walk in this dimension according to Daniel 12:3. In the backdrop of dark night, they will shine brightly like the stars. They will cause people to look to heaven. These shining ones will lead many to righteousness. We need people with true insight to arise in this global hour of chaos and confusion.”

Daniel 12:3, 8 NIV says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”, “I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”  Daniel was told to “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.” vv. 9

Daniel 12 describes a time when Israel would experience great trouble such as never was since there was a nation. This does not mean that what is described in Daniel 12:1 would happen immediately. Yet this time of trouble will be different.

What stirred in my spirit upon reading Daniel 12:8 was the phrase “What will the outcome of all this be?” Those who live in God’s wisdom will shine during times of calamity and turn many to righteousness. 

One of my favorite scriptures is Habakkuk 2:4, “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.” These words are emphasized throughout the Old and New New Testament. I minister on them often:

Romans 1:17 (ESV)

^{17 “}For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11 (ESV)

^{11 “}Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 

Hebrews 10:38 (ESV)

Living by faith is a must during these unprecedented times. Without faith it is impossible to please God. For those who come to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seriously seek Him.

“And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking him.” Hebrews 11:6 TPT 

Perhaps some of you will be one of His righteous ones that will reflect the brightness of the heavens, and lead many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever during this time of upheaval.

To God Be the Glory!

Dr. A.