DANIEL 4:1-27

“Often the convictions of one generation are the rejects of the next. That does not deny the possibility that, as time goes on, we shall accumulate some body of valid conclusions. But it does mean that we can achieve only by accumulation; that wisdom is to be gained only as we stand upon the shoulders of those who have gone before. Just as in science, we cannot advance except as we take over what we inherit, and in statecraft no generation can safely start at scratch, so personal, basic beliefs must be slowly built from our experience, but also from a study of the experience and conclusions of others.”

      Learned Hand

The hour has come where everything that can be shaken will be shaken.  The winds of the last days are blowing strong, and the bride is about to be united with her groom, Jesus Christ.  It is in these times that the church must take a hold of the convictions that God has produced in our lives.  There are some boundaries and habits that I know the Lord gave to me.  It is those convictions that carry me when the ship of life is tossed about with every wind of the world.  There is no difficulty, no trial or tribulation that can dissuade me of my convictions.  The prophet Daniel faced some tough situations. His unflattering interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream could have cost him his life. One of the Bible’s most popular stories recounts the man’s decision to pray even though the punishment was a one-way trip to the lion’s den. Those hard circumstances arose from Daniel’s own commitment to his convictions. The king might never have known if he had received a false interpretation of his dream. Daniel could have stopped praying, or at least made his daily prayers less public. However, dishonoring God seemed far worse than death. While his convictions often put him in a vise, the kings he served also rewarded his principled life. Today, we have the same choice to live by conviction or preference. Would you be willing to spend some time in a lion’s den for your convictions?  If you lived in a place where it was illegal to worship God, would you?  Are you willing to face the angry teeth of a hungry adversary that desires your demise?  Do other people know you as principled—someone who cannot tolerate dirty jokes or gossip, who refuses to pad his time sheet, and who responds to hurts with forgiveness? This is not an example of a super-saint; this is the God-honoring role believers are called to fulfill every day: we are to know Scripture and consistently model righteousness. Some days, while trying to live out our convictions, we will feel like Daniel facing the lion’s den. Nevertheless, God provides courage. If we are willing to make right choices, our determination will intersect with His divine bravery at just the right moment. The result is a life full of godly influence that will earn these words from our King: “Well done, good and faithful servant”.