Shining like the stars of Heaven

I am finishing the series of messages from Daniel today. As we look at Daniel 12, the Scripture in verse 3 says, "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." (ESV).

David Dykes, Pastor, Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, TX said this concerning that verse. Since I won't be sharing it today in the message, I thought I would give it here.

Let me give you three ways in which sharing Christ and stars are alike.

(1) Stars shine only when it’s dark. Well, we know stars actually shine during the day also, but nobody can see their light because of the brightness of our sun. When do you need to let your light shine for Jesus? Wherever there is spiritual darkness. It’s easy to let your light shine here at church when you are gathered with thousands of brothers and sisters but you need to let your light shine at school, at work, at your home, in your neighborhood, wherever there is darkness.

(2) Stars shine modestly but faithfully. You never have to be obnoxious or rude when you shine for Jesus. You don’t have to be the loudmouth who is always hitting somebody over the head with a 10-pound Bible. Like the stars, just shine–modestly but faithfully–day after day.

(3) Stars shine to give direction. For thousands of years, mariners and other explorers depended on the stars for navigation. Before the advent of sophisticated satellite navigation, a sailor looked for either the North Star (in the northern hemisphere) or the Southern Cross (in the southern hemisphere). They took a bearing on those stars and then know they were going in the right direction. That’s the way we ought to be. It’s great for us to wear the bracelets and ask the questions “WWJD?” But most people without Jesus aren’t looking at Jesus; they are looking at US! Our lives should be like the North Star, which constantly and consistently directs people to God.

So we are to be God’s stars in this misguided and perverse generation. There is one big difference between you and the stars shining in the sky. Daniel 12:3 says we will “shine forever!” It doesn’t just say “forever,” it says “forever and forever.” All the stars in the sky, including our own sun will one day burn out. They will be snuffed out like a candle. But when you are one of God’s stars shining forever, you will outshine the sun and the moon and the stars! Are you letting your light shine for Jesus, leading others to Christ?