The Ancient of Days The Edgefield Advertiser – Edgefieldadvertiser

All writers in Op Ed are here to inform and acknowledge issues of importance to our communities, however these writings represent the views and opinions of the authors and not necessarily of The Advertiser.

By Sigrid Fowler

The opposite of new is old,another thought that comesto mindas we singAuld Lang Synon January 1.Danielhasa visionofone like ason ofman,presented to the Ancient of Days. The titlegetsourattention.It is made up oftwo oppositeideasancient,awordmeaninglongevity in unspecified, perhaps absolute, terms andaword denoting the brief timespan of one twenty-four-hourperiod,theunitofa human life. The contrast is vivid andcant have beencontrived at randomor without thought.To speak of God as the Ancient of Days brings together in one title two facts we knowthat Godisnt limited bytime and paradoxically,thatGod is also omnipresent, as theologians saypresent everywhere, even in the seconds and minutes of eachsingle day inonepersons experience.Quitea thought for the new year, one to help us get startedmaybe withencouragementand peace.

One aspect of Gods nature that fascinates and comforts us is his eternity, says Ralph F. Wilson,writing aboutthe eternal God (http://www.jesuswalk.com/names-god/3_eternal.htm). The striking statement isnt simple to explain. How the eternal can be comforting Im not sure I know, but I get the pointWilson is making. Things bigger or more powerful or beyond us inasignificant waythingslike knowing everythingorbeing called the Eternalcan be reassuring, especiallyif theyre not threatening.Things Jesus said aboutthe Fatherillustrate thistruth.Forexample: Arent two sparrows sold fora cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father (Matt 10: 29). Or this: Your Father knows what you need before you ask him (Matt 6: 8b).

These arentjustthe teachings ofJesus. In the psalms, we findsimilarlines: He gives names to all the stars and calls them all by name (Ps 147: 4).Other psalms praise the God who is eternal. Psalm 102: 12 is an example: Butyou, O Lord, abide forever,/Andyour name to all generations.Psalm 90declares: For a thousand years inyour sight/Are like yesterday when it passes by,/Or as a watch in the night. When the writer of Psalm 121 says, He that watches Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps 121: 4a), he or she has zeroed in on this comfortingand paradoxicalaspect of Gods naturei.e., his eternal but always-present existenceand his loving concern.Its nice to know that somebody has our backSomebody, in fact. Call that Somebody Jesus, who is one with the Father and the Spirit, and youll find the comforta bit moreaccessible. Were being looked afterwhatever the time, whatever the placeand the person giving his attention to us is alsopowerful.

John reported the revelation of Jesus.His writingmakes upthe last book of the Biblefor example a momentwhenJesus, now revealedin glory,nowidentifies himselfwitha new name: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end(Rev 22: 13). Notice the same paradoxical quality in this title,the beginning and the endmake upone name, the name of one personagain,the contrast of present and foreverseentogetherin one person.Christisvictorious,a conquerorin Johns report, butwhen we remember the gospels,we knowhe isntthreatening. Hesapproachable, welcoming, available. He was so busy healing and teachinghe couldnt even eat, andhis family worried about his health. They even thought he was crazy! (Mark 3: 20-21).At one point, when children were brought to Jesus, the disciples tried to shoo them away. Jesus rebukedthe fussy disciples, not the parents who were bringing their children (Matt 19: 13-14), andwelcomedthem all.

Jesusown words show how one of eternal presence and power canbecomforting and comfortable, even in the minutes of ourparticulardays: Come to me, he said,all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matt 11: 28-30).This yoke?Maybeits likea sheep carried on the shoulders of a shepherd.Asheeplooks like a yokeif itson the shoulders,maybe the shouldersofthat happyshepherdexcitedlyyelling to everyonehes found his sheep.One of those quotable John F. Kennedy sayings comes to mind. He was young,being cautionedabouttheweighthe was carrying.He said, Hes not heavy, hes my brother. We allknowaboutworkingvery hard at somethingthat involvesa person we care about. Itsno task at all.Isthis what Jesus meant?Dontforget that the one who says, My yoke is easyis God the Son, the Son of Manwho cameafter us. Hesofferingtoexchangeourburdensfor his lighter one. If his burdenis concern drivenandinfusedbylove, indeed it is easy.

Ps 38: 4calls sin a burden.Theone of human appearance,whois presented tothe Ancient ofDaysto receivean eternalkingdom (Dan 7: 13-14)is theeternalSon of Man,who welcomes and loves us. He is the Good Shepherd. His strong shoulderscan take your burden.They carried a cross.

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