Daniel 7:9 says, "As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze."
This heavenly revelation of God's throne was given to Daniel in order that we might understand something specific about God. Not only that He is the one true judge, or that someday every nation and people group will bow to Him. But also that this judge and perfect penitent exists eternally. God was around before all things, and He will be there after.
What does it mean to say that God 'was and is?' It sounds like an oxymoron at first. Almost as if this being can transcend time somehow ... as though the Universe and chronology have no control over Him. The world in general doesn't understand this concept. In fact, unbelievers often get hung up on this very thing. They will claim that it's a convenient excuse to posit that God can exist outside of time and space, as this would somehow be a cop out philosophically.
I do not find it a difficult jump, however, to say that God is eternal. Take for example the Big Bang theory. Science now recognizes that everything had a beginning. At one point in the very distant past, something kicked off everything into existence. Now I challenge you to come up with something powerful enough to jump start an entire Universe, without using spiritual (or eternal) language. I'm not sure we can do it.
And because we are presented with a God in the Bible who existed before all things, it comes to pass logically I think, that right and wrong existed forever also. The Great Judge of all things invokes a sense of morality and goodness that will never change. Think about the power behind this statement for a moment.
If Jesus valued loving one another and loving God above a great many other things, then this truth must have always existed; it was also eternal. Even before there were people, animals, or planets - God's truth was in place. This transcendent morality then, never dissipates or goes away. It will be around forever. It is both ancient, and futuristic at the same time. This is what the concept of a being who is Ancient of Days accomplishes.
And because of this, I believe it is imperative that we stop trying to re-write the Bible. We stop trying to cover up inconvenient passages of Scripture with political correctness or cultural ambiguity. God doesn't change, even if we do. What was true two-thousand years ago, is true today (and it was true at the very creation of time and space also).
I have said in the past, that Jesus is one of the only sturdy things in our world today. As part of the Holy Trinity (one God in three persons), Jesus remains as constant as God the Father. Churches and the people in them can make mistakes, change their focus, and fall into discord; but the Lord does not.
In fact, the way of salvation for all mankind is already set. I enjoy the Scripture in the Gospel of John where Jesus talks to Simon Peter about taking sides. After Jesus asks the twelve disciples if anyone wants to leave, John 6:68 records Peter's answer. It says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God."
The question still stands today. Who else would we turn to in a confusing and chaotic world? Who else could send the Spirit to help us discern right from wrong? We would do well to counsel with the Ancient of Days on such weighted matters I think. His truth and sense of justice has existed before the creation of all things; it doesn't change. It cannot change.
It's difficult to picture this, because when it comes to people ... we often change our mind on a whim. Emotion, stress, and circumstances all act upon our intellect and cause us to question ourselves from time to time. In this way, it's hard to rely on any one understanding of truth or interpretation of right and wrong. On the contrary, it can often appear that nothing we know is for certain. It has been said that change is the only constant.
What a relief then, that we have a God we can rely on and whom we can seek out when difficult and confusing circumstances arise. A God who won't go back on Himself a moment later.
Keep reading and searching the Scriptures. Don't just take my word for it, instead open the Bible and engage the text. See what God actually said and did. Stay true to the faith that Jesus called us to, and remember always - that God is a beacon of hope that you may always count on. Daniel knew this thousands of years ago, and you and I may be assured of it today.
I am grateful we have someone like this in our lives who doesn't change with the ebb and flow of cultural convention and public opinion. This unchanging truth doesn't always make things comfortable, but it binds us to God eternally. It is a more reliable way of understanding the world we live in. A way that makes sense through God's eyes, not just our own.
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