Staying True to God
Daniel 1:1-20
Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily. "How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?" he asked. Mother Teresa replied, "My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful."
Living a holy life in an unholy world isn’t easy. There is so much in the world to tempt us to indulge in ungodly pursuits, but we can face and overcome every temptation if we will just hold on to the kingdom to which Jesus gave us the keys. How do we hold on?
"Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervours, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills."
John Brown, Nineteenth-century Scottish theologian
Daniel and three others were torn away from their friends and family back in Jerusalem. The Temple of the Lord was destroyed by the hordes that King Nebuchadnezzar sent in to pillage the temple and surrounding countryside.
Upon their captures, Daniel and his comrades were brought into the king’s presence. They had three years to learn the language and the customs of the Chaldeans. In the midst of their new and hostile environment, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah had to chose between their new customs and the ways of God.
The story is not that much different from what you and I have experienced. While we may not have a huge furnace with our names on it in the near future, we face many of the same things that Daniel and company had to face. They, like us, had to choose God in a world that was hostile to His message.
In light of it all, what do we do today? How do we take a stand for Him when the world is there to kick our feet from out from under us? I think we can use the story of Daniel and learn three things that can help live holy lives in an unholy world!
1. The World Has A Lot to Offer (vs. 3-5)
While we were pastoring in Lower Hainesville, our Sunday evening services usually consisted of close to and hour in Praise and Worship. We always gave the opportunity for others to give testimonies. Often the testimonies came with a favourite song request. This can be dangerous, especially if a person is not so well verses in many of the “older songs of the faith.”
It just so happened that a dear lady, in fact it is Caleb’s teacher’s grandmother, stood up and testified. I cannot remember what she praised God for, but then she asked for the song. I gulped long and hard as she asked for the song “The Hallelujah Side.” I did not know it, but I would try to sing it if she helped me out. Now, three years later, that songs has become one of my favourites to play on the piano.
There is a line in that song that goes “Though the world may sweep around me with her dazzle and her dreams, yet I envy not her vanity and pride.” Every where you look, the carnal world puts on a pretty good show, doesn’t it?
Advertisers draw on our sense to draw us into buying or watching anything. A few scantily clad women here, and a familiar song there can draw us in to almost anything. It is nothing new. In fact, it is the oldest trick in the book.
Adam and Eve looked at the fruit, and it looked good. The serpent sold them on the values and quality of life they were sure to have if the only took a bite.
David stood on his rooftop and peered down upon bathing Bathsheba. She looked good, and his lust only made her more appealing, so much so that the Hittite husband could easily be taken out of the way. Just place him in the front of the battle, and let him take the arrows.
Satan even tried to sell Jesus on the value of a common loaf of bread.
All around us, the world has a lot to offer. Many times, the offers are nice, but we don’t really need them. Poison wrapped in gift paper and a pretty bow does not change the fact that it is poison. Daniel, in the presence of the king, noticed a splendid spread before him on the king’s table.
“Meat” could be translated “food.” This, of course, was the diet of pagans, and it would include unclean animals. Remember that Daniel was a Jew and was under the Mosaic Law. They had been told not to eat certain meats, certain fowl, and certain fish.
2. People of God Need To Take A Stand (vs. 8-16)
In the midst of the fine dining and educational advances, Daniel wanted to remain pure. He may be a part of this new world, but his heart rested with God. He may have to learn the language and customs, but the God he served in Jerusalem was still with him in the courts of the Babylonian king. He wanted to remain 100% faithful to God, even if it would cost him his life.
Today, we Christians think we can get away with almost 100% devotion, but God wants a complete stand. Sometimes 99% is just not good enough. But what if it were in everyday life?
What you’d get if 99% were good enough:
No phone service for 15 minutes each day.
1.7 million pieces of first class mail lost each day.
35,000 newborn babies dropped by doctors or nurses each year
200,000 people getting the wrong drug prescriptions each year
Unsafe drinking water three days a year.
Three misspelled words on the average page of type.
2 million people would die from food poisoning each year.
Nobody said that it would be easy to live a life devoted to Jesus. We are tempted and tested at every corner. Our character is often developed by how we pass, and fail, these tests. The world always wants the best , but these young men determined to give their best to the Lord. It is possible to serve the Lord even in Babylon.
A test is something that manifests a person’s true character - test’s their faith. What type of test’s do we face?
a) Difficult commands can be a test - Abram was called to leave all he knew and follow God (Genesis 12:1,2)
b) Severe trials are tests - Satan asked God to allow him to test Job’s faith (Job 1:6-22)
c) Tested when others around us a blessed - Psalm 73 describes what it is like to see the difference in physical riches compared with the blessings that come from the hand of God
d) tested in our sufferings for Christ - Paul knew better than anyone what it meant to suffer for God (2 Cor. 11:21-33)
In the big picture, Daniel was willing to take a stand and demand to be tested. He took a stand for the ways of God. Where did he find the strength to keep going on? Look at his name. Daniel’s name, translated into English means “God is my judge!”
3. God’s Present Hand of Blessing (vs18-20)
One morning R.C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling. "I’m burdened this morning!" was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, "Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?" "Yes, but it’s a wonderful burden--it’s an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!" Seeing the puzzled look on the face of his friend, Chapman added with a smile, "I am referring to Psalm 68:19, which fully describes my condition. In that verse the Father in heaven reminds us that He ’daily loads us with benefits.’"
Daniel and his friends did not want to take part in the meal of the king. They wanted to be tested, an fed a “kosher” meal. When they remained faithful to God, what happened? “At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” Daniel 1:18-20
I truly believe that Daniel and his friends received the glory and honour from the king because they gave God all the glory and honour by living up to His commands. It is possible to serve God, even in Babylon.
For far too long, the church has lived an anemic life. We have tried to skate this life, and get in to Heaven by the skin of our teeth. When we sell out to God 100%, He will bless us!
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Conclusion
Fred Craddock, in an address to ministers, caught the practical implications of consecration. "To give my life for Christ appears glorious," he said. "To pour myself out for others. . . to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom -- I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. "We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking $l,000 bill and laying it on the table-- ’Here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all.’ But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $l,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, ’Get lost.’ Go to a committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. Usually giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at at time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it’s harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul."
The world wants to change you and make you a “conformer,” but God can help you become a “transformer” (Rom. 12:1–2). Daniel and his friends had a new home, strange new names, new teachings, and were even offered a new diet; but they kept the same heart’s dedication to the Lord (Prov. 4:23).
God can give us favor in difficult places (v. 9). Daniel was courteous his guards and did not create problems for them. He was following the counsel of Jeremiah (Jer. 29) and the example of Joseph (Gen. 39:4).
When everything in your life is upset and you find yourself in new circumstances that you cannot control, let the Lord take over and work out the plan He has in mind. If your heart is right with Him, His hand will work for you.
Dare to Be a Daniel
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known!
Philip P. Bliss
