“Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn the many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”

— Daniel 12:3

In this verse, Daniel gives a goal to set your heart on. Lift up your eyes. You are not one of the animals of the field to be satisfied with the husks on the ground, but lift up your eyes unto the stars.

Decades ago, I went into a suite of offices for some purpose. I don’t remember where it was or why I was there, but I remember one thing: When I got ready to leave and had finished my business, I was in something of a hurry, and I opened a door to the hall and stepped into a 3 x 4 foot broom closet. I instantly stepped out again, shamefacedly closed the door, and looked for the proper exit. I probably was in that broom closet for between one and two seconds.

Wouldn’t it be sad if I spent the rest of my life talking about that broom closet where I spent, at most, two seconds of my life? May I say to you, this world to which you give all of your energies and time and thought and effort will be less than two seconds of your eternal life. It has well been said that many people spend more time planning a two-week vacation than they plan where they are going to spend eternity. God has made you for forever. Some people cannot see beyond next year.

God of all creation, give me strength to lift my eyes to the stars, and as I count them, as Abraham did, let my faith and hope grow. Let me be a part of bringing people to righteousness and of imparting Your wisdom to others…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE LIFT
OUR EYES TO THE STARS.