The Right Time

 October 18, 2024

Back to Daniel and time.

Nebuchadnezzar had a problem. Though he was the most powerful man on earth, he was insecure. As a military conqueror himself, he knew how tenuous was his hold on that power. There were always intrigues in shadowy conversations whispered in secret hidden places. 

He had a dream of a huge figure of a man whose head was gold, chest silver, loins bronze, legs iron, and feet a mixture of clay and iron. We are left in the dark as to whether or not he understood the meaning of his dream and was testing the loyalty of his chief officers, or whether he really didn’t know. Either way, he insisted they tell him not only the meaning of the dream, but its content as well. They were baffled and protested. Nebuchadnezzar’s response?

“I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:” —Daniel 2:8 

A modern translation spells it out clearly:

“I know what you are doing! You’re stalling for time because you know I am serious.” —Daniel 2:8 NLT

We often imagine life would be so much better if we only had this or that thing we want; some tangible object, a different relationship, a different personality, anything that would bring some security or safety. Like Nebuchadnezzar, no matter what we do have, it cannot satisfy, can’t fill the hole in our hearts that only Christ can fill. So we look here or there for answers, And like Nebuchadnezzar, we become impatient and even angry, knowing time is running out like sand through an hourglass.

We stall for time, hoping a little more will bring a different outcome. But remember the two different words for time. A little more chronological time can’t do for us what kairos time offers, ie. the opportunity to choose Jesus right now.