Happy New Year.
Welcome to “Someday”. You know that day you said you’d write that book, start that company, or do that other thing God’s been whispering in your ear? When the clock struck midnight last night Someday arrived.
The thing is that Someday arrived in a world that has lost its way. We are in a world where absolutes, reality, and even Truth Himself (John 14:6) is being assaulted. I am concerned for Millennials who have been told North is South and South is North. And even more so for Gen-Z who have been told that the compass itself doesn’t exist.
How do you navigate life without a sense of direction?
Yes, I hear the cheeky retort “We’ve got Google Maps!” And therein lies the problem. That arrogant sense of self-sufficiency is called “the pride of life” and it causes us to mistake information for wisdom. They are not the same. Wisdom has a soul and it has character. Wisdom is peaceful, calm, and confident. It won’t argue – it will quietly wait for you to come to your senses. Wisdom knows North from South without Google Maps. Wisdom knows the Way (John 14:6).
As it is said, information is power. In our society, it appears omnipotent – it gives us the power to do, change, create, and produce anything. Until recently it needed someone to control it – a human to direct its power. And when controlled by a human, it takes on the nature of that human – whether good or evil. That’s scary enough. But that’s quickly changing. In a world that has been convinced that there is no compass, we’re also giving information – an inanimate object with no soul – the power to direct itself. And that is truly terrifying.
But this is the world in which our “Someday” has arrived. At this point, you’re probably saying “Gee, thanks for the uplifting New Year’s message, Pastor Karen!” But here’s the good part.
But those who know their God will be strong and do exploits. Daniel 11:32
Are you aware that in the original Hebrew version of that scripture the word “exploits” doesn’t appear? The word was added by the King James translators. The original text reads “those who know their God will be strong and do”. The Hebrew word translated as “do” is ʿāśâh. The word is used 2,633 times in scripture and can be alternately translated as
“to accomplish, to advance, to become, to bring forth, and to be busy, to exercise, to have charge of, to be industrious, to fulfill, to furnish, to govern, to perform, to procure, to provide.”
To sum it all up King James’ translators used the word “exploits”.
Also, notice the “But” at the beginning of the phrase. That usually means it’s the ‘b’ part of the thought. The beginning of the verse talks about people being corrupted by “flatteries” or lies (i.e. North is South etc.). Then it says – BUT those who know their God won’t fall for it. Instead, these will be strong and accomplish, advance, bring forth, be industrious, govern, procure, perform… Right amid the lies, right in the middle of the war on Truth, right in the middle of it is when we’re called to ʿāśâh – to do.
Can’t you hear the alarm clock? Wake up – it’s Someday. Write the book, start the business, step out on faith – DO. Your greatness will expose the lies. Your accomplishments give glory to the Truth. It’s time.
It’s Someday.
