November 7 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Nobody has yet found a theory that can explain the rise and fall of nations and the whole chain of happenings that we call history. Very loosely we talk about "progress" and "primitive societies" and the "future society," but we really don't know what we mean. The plan and purpose of events escape us. No one can read the script of history. The scroll is sealed.

We are like sailors on a fleet that has left the harbor with sealed orders for the expedition. Day in and day out we sail the rolling seas. But no one has been found worthy to open the scroll and execute the orders. Days turn to weeks, weeks to months. We keep guessing at the purpose of our mission. Yet we see nothing but the restless, endless sea.

"I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll." There are moments when we admit our ignorance. Nobody seems to know where we are going.

Notice now that it is not an angel but an elder who says to John that he should stop crying. The elder represents the church. The servants of God do not only share the tears of all humanity, they also know the mystery of history—because they know Christ.

Of course we must not pretend to know more than we actually do. Some people and groups claim to interpret past history and the latest events in the light of the Bible. They even outline the course of future events and claim God's authority for their papers and books. They are an embarrassment to us and the church. They make the gospel itself seem unreliable to those who do not know the Lord.

Believers do not know all the answers. But they have a right to say to all people, "Stop crying. Jesus Christ will execute the plan of God."

REFLECTIONS

How does knowing and believing that "Jesus Christ will execute the plan of God" help you in your everyday living?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.