God Completely Knows Your Future

One of the greatest factors of stress is the unknown.  There is a show on TV called Doomsday Preppers where individuals are planning at great lengths for various "end-of-the-world" scenarios.  Many of those portrayed have spent thousands of dollars preparing their families for a future doomsday event.  They are so stressed out about the end time that they spend more time living/fearing the future than enjoying their present life.  In Daniel 2, God is going to show King Nebuchadnezzar, that although he thinks himself to be the "king of all kings", that there is one King who has the final say over all history, both past, present and future.  Nebuchadnezzar has been given a dream that has stressed him to the breaking point.  He has done everything in his power to create a dominate, world-wide kingdom, and yet his dream leaves him uncertain about his own future.  He commands that all the brilliant minds in his kingdom interpret every detail of his dream or face death.  The only reaction his scholars and wise men have is to say, "Your request is impossible!  Only a god who talks to men could give such information." (2:10-11).

Well, there is one man in his kingdom, Daniel, who has a personal connection with the only true God, Jehovah.  While the wise men ran around crying "the sky is falling", Daniel, a secure believer in God, was  unflappable, confident, and secure.  His future did not rest in his own power and wisdom, but rather in the arms of the One who holds the whole world in His hands.  After spending all night in prayer, Daniel approached the king and boldly declared how God has predetermined history to unfold.  Three kingdoms will follow the Babylonian Kingdom (Persia, Greek, and Roman), and then the great Rock of Ages (Jesus Christ) will be ushered in, crush all kingdoms, never to be moved.  In a world of great uncertainly from one moment to the next, there is great assurance knowing that even though the most brilliant minds don't know tomorrow's events, there is a God who is sovereign over all creation, and He knows every step we will take, even into our future.   It is a personal relationship with this God, Christ Jesus, that creates a less stressed life about tomorrow's events.  Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.          

God Honors Righteous Living (Part 3)

To be successful in life one must have confidence in what they are trying to accomplish.  Success is not found in cowards.  To be considered a "success", begins with the birth of an inward confidence that is made visible through hard work and passion.  The same formula can be applied with living out a Christian life in a hostile world.  God has given each believer His Holy Spirit, whose mission is to help each one grow in confidence, courage, and commitment, to live out loud what God is doing within each heart.  This young man Daniel, reflects this truth, as he displayed his determination to live a righteous, God honoring life, in a hostile world.  This determination and commitment first began from within his heart and then flowed from his words and his actions (Daniel 1:9-13). 

How confident was Daniel in God's righteous path?  Notice Daniel's actions.  First, he was confident to go respectfully to the officials in charge.  He did not protest, have a sit in, or start an occupy moment.  His life and testimony was being lived out for others to see, and when he came in respect, they listened to what he had to offer.    Second, Daniel had a plan B.  When the first person turned him down, he went to the next person, and asked them to test out his substitute menu for a few days.  If the results did not meet their standards, then Daniel would do it their way (humility).  Third, Daniel was confident (bold) that God would use their menu to bring the needed results.  Why?  Because God always honors righteous living.  And as a result, God blessed these young men physically (14-16), mentally and spiritually (17-20), and blessed them continually in the palace (1:21).  When the goal to honor God in all we do grips our heart, then it will be reflected in our walk and talk.  And it is this confidence that allows us to trust in God and to have a less stressed life.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.   

God Honors Righteous Living (Part 2)

Daniel 1:8 is one of the powerful verses in this book.  This verse gives us a glimpse into the heart of the young man named Daniel, a heart convinced that God would at all times and in any location honor those who chose to live righteously.  This verse states, "But Daniel purposed in his mind that he would not defile himself...."  This commitment on Daniel's part was not a spur-of-the-moment decision or a popularity decision.  Daniel was clearly in the minority, seeing the reaction of the king's court (10).  Daniel had made up his mind that even in a foreign land, with no one watching his back, and in an environment to live however he chose, he would still live his life pursuing God's heart.  This decision came out of a heart already firmly committed long before he was brought into this pagan land.  He had the freedom to live as he chose, but deep inside his heart he knew that even in Babylon he would represent the God of his people in this distant land.  The God of the Bible does not water down His standards when it comes to righteous living, even if man's outward circumstances change. 

It is no different for you and I today.  Paul instructs all Christians in 1 Corinthians 8 & 9 that even though we have freedom to chose how we are going to live, and what habits we are going to continue or stop, our freedom is depended on what God's Word says about a matter and how our fellow man will be helped or hindered by those actions.  Is the food we are eating, the places we are going, the clothes we are wearing,  showing our love for God and our neighbor, or are they being used to make our own lives more comfortable and pleasurable?  Even as Christians, we have a responsibility to make inward choices from the heart that will guide our decision making in the future.  There are many who are watching our lives.  And the only life that truly pleases God is a life that chooses to walk after God's righteous standard.  Any other standard will weaken our testimony.  If you purpose to walk closely with Christ and live by His standards, I can guarantee you will have a less stressed life.  Until next time, keep seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness. 

Time to Take the Test

I have been blogging about God's sovereignty as seen in the book of Daniel.  The whole premise of this blog has been to encourage Christian to walk daily with Christ to ensure a life that will be less stressful than those who seek to live their life without a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Well, today will begin the start of putting into practice what I so dearly believe and what I have so boldly preached about for a number of years.  On this day, my dad, my best friend, my spiritual mentor has been diagnosed with cancer.  The man who has never spent a day in the hospital, who has rarely been sick for more than two days is now facing the valley of cancer.  As I see him in that hospital bed, hooked up to all sort of machines, like Daniel, this is an unwanted place.  We did not volunteer to get cancer.  We did not sign up for the next hospital bed.  Cancer developed in my dad's body, surprising all his family and even doctors; yet cancer did not surprise God.  I can see even at this moment that God has been preparing my sister, brother, and myself for this moment.  God has been working and dealing with my mom and dad for years for this moment.  No, we did not expect the diagnoses, but God has been working all along to make sure that this valley will not destroy us, but to make us stronger.  So now we have been given a test to see if walking closely with Christ really does matter, and if knowing Christ personally, truly lessens life's stressful valleys.  As of this moment, without Christ's presence I would be a basket case; yet in His presence I have His peace.          

God Honor's Righteous Living

There are many people who ask themselves the following question, "Does it matter if I do the right thing?"  There are also many Christians who ask themselves a similar question, "Does God really care if I do the right thing?"  It would seem that our lives would be less stressful if we just did want our flesh wanted to do.  When we bring into the equation the option to do the "moral" or "right" thing, then we have opened ourselves to a little more stress for our conscience.  The world say, "If it feels good, as long as you don't hurt anyone, just do it"; while God's Word instructs His children to think differently.  It is no different with Daniel.  We have seen that he was uprooted from his home and placed in the wicked city of Babylon.  Everything that he had ever wished he could do, without his parents finding out, was right at his feet.  He could act, talk, live, and think any why he wanted to with little to no opposition, but something was different with Daniel - he was convinced that no matter where he was, God expects and would honor right living. 

Daniel 1:8 states it this way, "But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank..."  Daniel purposed early on that he would honor God by the physical choices he made, even in a foreign land.  You see, righteous living can only begin with an inward change.  You and I do not have the strength to live a moral and right life on our own.  The Bible declares that all men are filthy and no one does any good (Ps. 14:3, Rom. 3:10).  We are all born into sin and born destined to live for our selves; which in turn causes great stress.  But when we recognize our position as enemies of God, and cry out for mercy and forgiveness from a holy and righteous God, then the Bible states that we are clothed in Jesus' righteousness and we can stand innocent before God on the day of judgment, because of the work of Christ Jesus on the cross.  And those who have experienced this change of relationship with God, then they are expected, but also long to live right before God.  Even when we are facing the most uncertain or difficult choices and situations of life, God will always honor those who walk after righteousness (Psalms 1).  If you have experience this inward change of heart with God, then your life will be less stressful.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.    

Not Misplaced by God (Part 4)

Do your friends and family know you better by a nickname than your real name?  A nickname usually is never chosen by a person, but rather by a friend or family member who witnessed you doing something funny, strange, unusual, or memorable.  Whether you like it or not, a nickname has a strange way of holding on to one's identity throughout life.  It was no different for Daniel.  In chapter one, we find Daniel being carried away to a pagan land, removed from his country and people, taken to an unwanted location, living in unfamiliar environments, and working in an unlikely mission.  To make matters worse, now the king wants to change his identity.  Daniel and his three friends are given pagan names (1:6-7), as a way of erasing their past life and giving them a new start.  Will Daniel (God is my Judge) choose to continue to trust in his God, who seems missing, or will he embrace his new identity as Belteshazzar (may Bel protect), and embrace a new god?  

Life is not fair!  There will be times in the life of a Christian in which the world will try to brand you with a new identity.  The world wants you and I to be like them, to join in their foolishness, to give caution to the wind, and to live according to our own rules.  Each new name given by king Nebuchadnezzar was an attempt to rob their allegiance to the true God and replace it with the false god of materialism, sex, and prosperity.  If the world is not successful in getting a child of God to act, talk, and think like them, then they will begin to label God's children with all sort of false titles and descriptions (like holy Joe, bigoted, narrow-minded, goody two shoes, ect...) that are used to break their spirits and belittle one's faith.  Through all the name calling, you can rest assure that God knows His children by name, and no matter the labels the world places on us, God has not misplaced His children.  And we have a promise in Revelation 2:17, that those who overcome this world will be given a new name from our Heavenly Father.  When we realize that God is pleased when we wear His name with distinction in this world, then we will be less stressed in this world.  Until next time, keep walking close with Christ. 

Not Misplaced By God (Part 3)

If you were to ask most Christians what place of service God would most likely choose for His children, you might get a variety of answers that center around the theme of "Ministries of the church".  Many Christians think that they are not a "higher tier Christian" if they are not a pastor, evangelist, missionary, or even Sunday school teacher.  This idea could not be further from the truth.  Yes, it is correct to say that God has called all of His children to be missionaries, but as one man put it, "I am a missionary cleverly disguised as a plumber."

We see this truth lived out in the life of Daniel.  Daniel is not a prophet, walking the streets, preaching the judgment of God (like Jeremiah).  Daniel is not a prophet leading people through a dry wilderness (like Moses).  Daniel is not a missionary explaining the gospel to pagans (like Paul).  God has called Daniel to be a prophet, cleverly disguised as a politician.  What!  God would call someone to work in politics?   Yes, God needs His children available to work in every part of this world, to be a light for the gospel in a dark environment. 

Daniel realized that he was not misplaced by God, even though given the most unimaginable mission for a  Jew.  A devout Jewish male did not want to be serving in the palace of the "anti-Christ", but rather in the Kingdom of the Messiah.  But Daniel accepted the events and mission he was given, but did so without compromising his faith and trust in the sovereign God. (1:4-5).  You see no matter where you are working in this earthy realm, Christians must hold to two truths: First, God has given you that job, and He wants you to witness for Him wherever that job may be.  Second, your secular position never gives you the right to compromise God's Word with your actions.  No matter the job you have, work every day for God's glory, knowing He has placed you on mission for Him.  If you remember this every day, then your work will be not as stressful and unsatisfying.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.