Scripture: Daniel 6 v 16 - 18: "Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him."
After Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, Darius became king and truly favoured Daniel above other advisers. This angered his own bunch of people and they made a scheme to get rid of Daniel. They conned King Darius into making a decree that anyone praying to anyone but him will be put to death.
Even today the Ayatollahs, or leaders of Iran, formerly Persia, when they make a decree it is unchangeable forever. Possibly even stemming from this decree of Darius thousands of years ago, they want to destroy Israel. Or anyone who opposes Islam.
Daniel got trapped by his faithful devotion to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and King Darius was furious with himself for falling for the con of the cowards around him. He had no option but to seal Daniel into the den of man-eating lions but tried to reassure him saying 'God will protect you'.
And so it was. Daniel would have prayed the whole night through and the lions ignored him. He never wavered in his faith and submitted to whatever God decreed rather than any decree of the king or any other person. Darius was delighted to find Daniel alive and intact the next morning. In his anger he had the cowards and their whole families tossed into the den of lions where they were instantly devoured.
Daniel was promoted and through his friendship with the king helped to have the Israelites returned to their own land. Daniel was very old by this time and chose to stay in Babylon rather that travel the long journey home.
Throughout the book of Daniel we see many victories and they are written for us to learn from to promote growth in our spiritual lives. The most prominent of all Daniel's attributes, together with his friends, Meshach, Abednego and Shadrach, who survived the fiery furnace, was absolutely no compromise with worldly people and false gods.
Countries which have allowed millions of migrants to live in them are discovering that their hospitality and kindness has now been weaponized against them. Instead of migrants learning to enjoy the customs of their host countries, they are imposing their cultures and religions emphatically and uncompromisingly. The huge increase in serious crime involving immigrants is causing equally serious "expel them" ideas. Christianity has been severely compromised. Interfaith is growing, mingling the faith of Christians with other pagan religions creating apostasy and unbelief, an abomination to our Heavenly Father.
We need to be sure we have not compromised our faith to reach the highest level of commitment, which Jesus achieved for every human ever born by His death on the Cross. He never compromised with the scribes, Pharisees, or rulers of Israel. He withstood them all knowing what price He would have to pay.
Jesus was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in that fiery furnace! Daniel 3 v 23 - 25: "And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
The seven men who tossed these three Jews into the fire died from the intense heat, but here the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, sees the three of them walking around in the fire, free from their shackles, plus the Son of God keeping them from any hurt. Their garments were not even singed, nor was the smell of fire and smoke on them. Now that's a victory!
If God can keep them from the tiniest blister in such circumstances, because of their faith and total commitment, then surely He can do the same for those who follow Him and worship the Father in Spirit and truth. In these last days the sheep are being separated from the goats. The season of the return of Jesus is upon us.
We need divine protection like Daniel had in the lion's den, like the three men in the furnace had. Jesus showed up in their midst and saved them to the uttermost because they were willing to die for their faith in God.
Daniel 3 v 16 - 18: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
Words of sheer beauty in the face of death, spoken to an arrogant king who was soon replaced by Darius, after Nebuchadnezzar received the writing on the wall, first edition, executed the day after Daniel interpreted those ominous words. "Mene, mene tekel upharsin" - You have been found wanting, your kingdom is being taken from you.
Could we, under similar circumstances defy a king and mock him in front of huge crowds, be willing to die for Jesus, who died for us? Will we take the mark of the Beast on our right hand or forehead so we can continue to buy and sell but forever be lost to Heaven? Or rather refuse it and be martyred? These days are ahead, but not far off.
Revelation 12 v 9 - 11: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Plagues, climate change, financial upheaval, famines, government corruption, wars are already upon us, but are we getting the message? If we submit our lives totally to Jesus and obey His every word, no matter if we live or die, we are eternally safe. We cannot play games with God as He will never lose. He gives us the free will to love Him or reject Him. He forces no-one. He will fulfil every word in the Bible for He cannot lie nor cheat.
Jesus' last words to His disciples just before His ascension were that they, and we, will know the season of His return. Not the day nor hour, but the season. Not Spring nor Summer, but a set time like a season, and dear readers, we are witnessing the season right now.
If there are mockers and scoffers about this, that's perfectly in line with the Bible. 2 Peter 3 v 3 - 4: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
In the last days they will scoff and mock saying since the Apostles died nothing has changed. They ask, Where is the promise of His coming? Many said don't make the Covid pandemic about God and religion. It certainly turned this world upside down. It is a sign from God that Jesus will soon return. Surely nothing is continuing as it was from the beginning!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we worship and bow down before Your Throne, we worship You in one accord in Spirit and in truth. We abolish all our traditions that make You irrelevant and call upon the name of Jesus to save us. We repent of rejecting You and following the world run by Satan, we choose to follow You and keep Your Word no matter what. Father, may we humbly ask to be accepted by You. We will separate ourselves from all idolatry and sinful behaviour. In Jesus' name. Amen.