As I stood at the fifty yard line at Cheyenne South High School, a light rain turned into a violent hail.  Grape sized hail was pummeling everyone … and players, coaches, and fans began to run for shelter.

For me, it was a moment.

I walked and took the moment in, I reflected on the judgment of God.

Would God reign hail on us?  And how big would it be?  And is that where He is as He gazes on us?  I can not say.

But reflecting on Him this morning, I have to say:  He is so merciful.  To me, to our families, to even to our enemies.  He is merciful, and full of grace, and quick to forgive.  He sent His son to pay the debt and crossed out our transgressions.

But His power to judge consumed me in that moment.

Today, I think about what God has told us about life, our trials, and what God has planned for us and for everyone else.

Jesus says in John 16 that “in this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

In 1 Samuel 30, we read that David experiences a defeat.  And in response to an undefeated streak coming to an end, those close to him celebrate him by speaking of stoning him.

The enemies of God will always stand up and rant and declare that they will destroy those who love Him.  They will puff up their chests and sting, or even injure, those who stand in His honor.

But they are like a small hailstorm in comparison to flood.

And they will never conquer what God has in store for us.

Daniel was perhaps the wisest man in the Bible.  And, as a biblical lover and not a biblical scholar, I am sure others could argue for Solomon or Paul or even Abraham.

But Daniel knew some things.

And those things that he knew connected with John as he was marooned to Patmos.

Daniel 7 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Daniel described some events very similar to those of John in Revelation.  They both shared in their visions and expressions from God.  They don’t make much sense to me, and yet they are crystal clear.

The boastful horn is destroyed.

One like a son of man came into the presence of the Ancient of Days.

His dominion is everlasting.

Do not fear the hail storm.

Do not fret over the threats of the enemy.

Do not even fret over your shortcomings, or those of the people around you.

Rather, stand in awe of the God who can drop elephant-sized hail.

Stand in awe of the God who has created you with a purpose for all of your days.

Stand in awe of the God who loves you too much to let you fall through the cracks.

For He, and He alone, holds the keys to eternal life.

In The Name of the Father and the 

Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

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Coach J