Today's reading centered on Daniel and the life of exile for the Israelites. During this time there were numerous pressure points for the worshippers of Yahweh. There were many who did not follow the ways of their overlords, nor did they want to conform. But how does a God follower manage when they are told to change their beliefs?
"even if" is the answer. Boiled down, the punishment may be death but the Lord God can deliver. Daniel's first recorded act was to turn down the royal food under threat of severe punishment. Daniel stood to meet the emperor and declare to him a dream with interpretation with the threat of death should he be wrong. Shadrach, Meshah and Abednego would not worship the gold idol, Daniel would not stop praying, Jeremiah kept on proclaiming from the bottom of a dry cistern, and so on. "even if" I die, I will not turn from my God.
Did many die? Of course. Their faith will never be forgotten in the annals of our Lord. Their names and deeds are in the book of Life. We will meet them someday and marvel.
There is a great mystery: the importance of the Spirit when facing imminent trial. How did these men and women face certain death? They were empowered by the Holy Spirit with a shalom that filled their inner being. They didn't scream their devotion, or bewail their bad fortune, and they didn't recant to save their skins. They were at peace with their God no matter what the world through at them.
How different today in our affluent world. Especially in the USA where the open spirit of tolerance for other religions was made possible by prevailing Christianity's gospel of grace. We do not prosecute Hindu's, or Muslims, atheists or any other religion (unless they are dangerous). But now Christians and Jews are being targeted for anihilation. The stories are being told on a one to one basis now. "Convert or die." "Submit or die." "Just die."
"even if" I die, I will not deny my God, my Lord, my Jesus. Is your faith ready for this moment?
No comments:
Post a Comment