Triplets of Christ-Mind: Be Faithful Even in Danger, for God Is Faithful

As we have seen in previous posts, fulfillment in our Christian walk requires knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Knowledge refers to having learned God’s Word, or at least having an intellectual appreciation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 1:1,14,18) Who came to earth in human form to be the perfect, sinless sacrifice to reconcile sinful man to Holy God (2 Corinthians 5:18). He rose again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) to give all who trust in Him everlasting life (John 3:16).

Wisdom moves us from head knowledge to heart knowledge, as we realize His awesome power, justice and holiness and fear the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), knowing that we are sinners deserving eternal punishment in hell (Romans 6:23). But then, as we are born again (John 3:3-8), we experience relief that He paid the debt we could not (Philippians 4:7), and joy in our salvation (Psalm 35:9).

Too many Christians stop there, and do not gain understanding by applying God’s Word to their lives. But for those who show understanding by keeping His commandments (John 14:15), telling others about Him, and serving Him (Matthew 28:19-20), what happens when it becomes inconvenient, unpopular, or even dangerous to do so?

For a Godly answer to this question, we need look no further than Daniel, who, as we have seen before, exemplifies the triplets of Christ-mind. King Darius, who had taken the Chaldean kingdom from Belshazzar as Daniel had prophesied (Daniel 5:30-31), set up a brain trust led by Daniel as the chief of three presidents commanding 120 princes (Daniel 6:1-3).

The number 120 is interesting as it is 3 (God’s perfect number representing the Trinity) times 40, which generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or waiting on the Lord. For example, Jesus was tempted by the devil for forty days in the desert (Luke 4:2); Moses lived forty years in Egypt and forty years in the desert (Exodus 24:18, 34:1-28) before God led him to set His people free; and Elijah traveled for 40 days to Mount Horeb to hear God’s plan for his future (1 Kings 19:8-19).

Given the nature of human politics, it is not surprising that the other presidents and 120 princes resented Daniel’s power over them, despite his excellent spirit, and that they plotted against him. They looked hard for “occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; because “he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him (Daniel 6:3-4).

They realized that the only way they could prove him disloyal to the kingdom was to make Daniel choose between his loyalty to the king and his obedience to God (Daniel 6:5). Extending their scheme to involve the king, presidents, governors, and the princes, counselors and captains, they convinced the king to issue a decree that anyone who prayed to any god or man other than the king for 30 days would be thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:6-7).

Upon hearing the decree, did Daniel cave to political pressure, tremble in fear for his life, or defiantly rebel against the king? No, he just continued worshipping God as he had always done. He awaited confirmation that the decree was signed; he returned home; and he opened his windows toward Jerusalem. As was his habit three times a day, he kneeled, prayed, and gave thanks to God (Daniel 6:10).

Daniel’s enemies found him doing this, appeared before the king, and confronted him with how Daniel had broken the law by worshipping God three times a day. The king regretted his decision, desperately wanted to save Daniel, and worked all day trying to find an escape clause, but his officials would not hear of it (Daniel 6:11-15).

To avoid losing face, King Darius commanded them to capture Daniel, and he had him thrown into the lions’ den, but he spoke these words to him: Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Amazing that a pagan king could utter such words of faith, hope, and encouragement! To make Daniel’s situation even more difficult, they found a large rock, set it across the den’s opening, and sealed the den shut (Daniel 6:16-17). This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ rising from the dead after three days in the sealed tomb.

All night, as the king wondered about Daniel’s fate, he fasted, refrained from listening to music, and stayed awake. Early in the morning he arose, hurried to the lions’ den, and cried out to Daniel. He called him servant of the living God, proclaimed that Daniel served God continuously, and asked if God was able to deliver Daniel from the lions (Daniel 6:18-20).

Daniel greeted the king reverently, and answered that God had sent his angel, who shut the lions’ mouths, and that they did not harm him. He explained that he was innocent before God and before the king, for he had done him no wrong. The king rejoiced for Daniel’s safety, commanded that he be released, and found him unharmed, “because he believed in his God” (Daniel 6:21-23).

Once again Scripture shows us salvation through faith, by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-10), with the proof of faith (in man’s eyes, for God knows our hearts regardless of our works) being obedience (James 2:14-26). Daniel was innocent not because he had never sinned (Romans 3:23), but because he trusted God, was faithful to obey Him no matter what consequences he might face, and was therefore righteous before God (Romans 4:6-22).

Those who had accused Daniel did not fare well, for the king commanded the capture and casting into the lions’ den of these men, their children and their wives. Just in case any scoffers might be wondering if these were emasculated lions who lacked the strength to attack Daniel, Scripture tells us that the lions broke all the bones of Daniel’s enemies before they even reached the bottom of the den! (Daniel 6:24).

God rewarded Daniel for His faithfulness by sparing His life, allowing him to prosper under the reign of King Darius, and even ensuring his long-term position under the next king, Cyrus the Persian. Even more amazing, God worked through this trial (Romans 8:28) in Daniel’s life to show His mighty power to King Darius, who in turn proclaimed it worldwide! To all people, nations, and languages throughout the earth, the king wrote, offered them peace, and issued a decree about the God of Daniel, the living God, Who is forever faithful (Daniel 6:25-26;28).

The king’s decree was for men throughout the kingdom to fear, respect, and recognize God for His indestructible kingdom, His eternal reign, and His mercy. The God Who delivered Daniel is a God Who delivers and rescues those who trust Him, as He performs miracles in heaven, in earth, and toward His people (Daniel 6:26-27).

May we have the understanding, faithfulness, and courage to follow Daniel’s example by trusting God’s Word and obeying Him, even when it is unpopular, politically incorrect, or life-threatening to do so. God will reward us richly by giving us abundant life, using us for His glory, and rewarding us in our eternal life with Him!

© 2016 Laurie Collett

Which Way Are You Going?

Photo by Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness Bureau of Land Management 2012

In this life, we are either going forward or going backward, but we never stay in the same place. Some processes, like time, move us relentlessly in a single direction Apart from science fiction, no one can go back in time and rewrite history, and no one gets any younger.

Progress, or regress, but don’t think you can coast and remain where you are. The influence of this world is like a river, continually pulling us downstream. As we can see just by glancing at a newspaper, downstream in this world is neither a safe nor a pleasant place to be.

Engaging in the Christian walk (Romans 8:1,4; Galatians 5:16), running the race Christ has set before us (Hebrews 12:1), and fighting the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7) is like paddling upstream. Every moment of every day is a battle (Ephesians 6:12) in which we must crucify the flesh (Romans 8:13), resist the devil (James 4:7), and separate ourselves from the world that wants to conform us to its image (Romans 12:2).

Only in this way can we advance, not through our own power, but through the Holy Spirit Who lives within every believer from the moment we are saved (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13). In our own strength we can do nothing (John 15:5), but His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and with Him, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Once Christians are born again (John 3:3-8) by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), we are assured of eternal life (John 3:16). We can never lose this most precious gift, for we have done nothing to earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9), and it is the shed blood of Christ that has paid in full for all our sins, past, present and future (Romans 3:25).

In thanksgiving and joy over what He has done, we should want to devote our life to serving Him (James 2:14-26) and following His perfect plan for our life (Jeremiah 29:11-13; 33:3), which is the best blessing we could ever receive. We become a new creation at the moment of salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and when Christ returns for His children at the Rapture, we will receive a glorified body that will never age, sin, die, or experience pain or sorrow (1 Corinthians 15:35-58). In that blissful and perfect state we will live with Him and with our loved ones in Christ forever.

In the meantime, during that all too brief period between salvation and Rapture or going home to be forever with Him, is our Christian walk. Ideally, this is a time of progressive sanctification in which we become continually molded into the image of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:10; Isaiah 64:8). God accomplishes that, if we allow Him to, through trials that strengthen our faith in and closeness to Him; through prayer in which we ask the Spirit to reveal His will; and through instruction and meditation in God’s Word.

Yet so many times we see Christians who, once being saved, rejoice briefly in their salvation, yet are then content to drift along the river of life. The problem is that drifting does not allow us to hold our ground, as Charles Stanley said in a sermon on this topic. It can be so pleasant to float in a raft on a mountain stream, enjoying the scenery and the warm sun. But if we are not careful to chart our course and to pay attention to warning signs, we may soon find ourselves in whitewater or even about to tumble down steep falls to our sure death.

Drifting begins slowly – perhaps a casual glance at something we should not be admiring, “social” drinking, or going somewhere we shouldn’t go because we don’t want to seem too prudish to our “friends” (Proverbs 1:10-19). Once we give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27), he can establish a stronghold (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) in our life, and we may start backsliding into sin and away from God (Proverbs 14:14; Jeremiah 2:19).

Before we realize what has happened, we can get caught up in the undercurrent pulling us inexorably to where dangerous rocks threaten the safety of our raft. The temptations of today’s world are pervasive, ubiquitous, and addictive, whether they involve pornography, gambling, alcoholism or other substance abuse.

If we keep our wits about us while in the raft, we may become aware of the warning signs that we are headed for destruction – drifting into unfamiliar, choppy waters; increase in speed headed the wrong way; and even the constantly increasing roar of the falls nearby. But if we’re not careful, it will be too late, and we will plunge over the edge, losing not only our self-control and our blessings, but our life itself.

As Christians who have asked Jesus to be Lord of our life, we cannot lose our eternal life (John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35-39). But if we continue to drift away from Him and ignore the Holy Spirit’s warnings (1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30) to get back on course, we may lose privileges including our testimony, ministries, material blessings, health, and family. All these corrections, which God allows as part of His chastening process (Hebrews 12:6), can be the direct consequences of sin. We can even lose the joy of our salvation (Psalm 35:9; 51:12) and the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Ultimately, if we continue to rebel, even if passively by allowing the world to draw us under, God may allow Satan to end our earthly life, destroying our flesh before we dishonor Him any further (1 Corinthians 5:5). A Christian in that situation will still go to Heaven, but will suffer the loss of rewards he could have had by following God’s perfect plan for His life (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). As our former (late) pastor used to say, sometimes God gets more glory from a Christian’s death than He does from His life.

What a sad commentary and what a waste of the awesome privileges we have been given! Once we are saved, we are not only God’s children, but we are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) and fellow workers (1 Corinthians 3:9) with Christ! May we not through our own carelessness be relegated to the shelf or be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27), separated from opportunities for service. May we daily yield to the Holy Spirit’s direction, listen for His still small voice (1 Kings 19:12), pray, study His Word, and diligently paddle upstream, against the wicked undercurrent of this world to heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6) with Him! 

© 2016 Laurie Collett