Examples that endure and inspire
This past Sunday we looked at the life of Joseph and his trust in the Lord regardless of the situations or circumstances. We could just as easily have observed the life of Daniel. The book of Daniel begins with the deportation and exile of the upper crust of leadership in the nation of Judah (605 BC). They are marched across the desert to Babylon, where the young men will be renamed, retrained and re-formed into representatives of the Babylonian Empire, rather than Judah and Jehovah.
Their names were changed to include the names of Babylonian gods. Just imagine; every time you introduce yourself, every time someone calls out to you, and every time someone thinks of you they think of a Babylonian god rather than the name that reminds you of Yahweh and His role in your life. Daniel (God is my judge) is now called Belteshazzar (Bel protect his life – Bel is an alternate name for Marduk). Hananiah (The Lord shows grace) is to be known as Shadrach (command of Aku, moon god). Mishael (Who is what God is) is given the name Meshach (Who is what Aku is). And finally, Axariah (The Lord helps) is renamed Abednego (Servant of Nego). Now begins the retraining and indoctrination into Babylonian life, beginning in Daniel 1 with the introduction of the food of the king. Have you ever noticed that though they changed Daniel’s name, they did not control his heart and mind? Named “God is my judge,” Daniel sees what would defile him and seeks how to please God in this situation. We know there were many other Jewish young men there, but only Daniel and his three friends are willing to take a stand for their God.
Just as Joseph took a stand for the Lord (and Potiphar) by refusing the seduction of Potiphar’s wife, these young men (far from home and without recourse) take a stand. Today the cry is, “God is love and we should be like God and simply love everyone.” Unfortunately, this definition of love sacrifices truth because this call to love is acceptance of whatever behavior, attitude and action others choose to have. I agree that we should love as God loves. God’s love incorporates the truth, and the truth is that sin destroys and brings death (John 10:10). Sin is never to be celebrated; instead, it is to be confessed to a holy and just God who cannot endure sin. God instead has made a provision through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ to forgive sin and restore the sinner to a relationship with Himself. Salvation is not simply being forgiven, but as we see in Romans 8:28-30, God’s provision and plan is never to leave us as we are, but to make us more and more like Jesus.
Paul makes this clear in Acts 26:19-20: “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works which give evidence of repentance.” We as believers and followers of Christ need to remind ourselves that this “evidence of repentance” is obedience to the commands and words of Christ. These works in no way bring about or earn our salvation, as all of salvation is the work of God in our life. Instead, this evidence is Exhibit #1 that we “are a new creation in Christ, old things have passed away. Behold, all things are become new.” (@ Corinthians 5:17)
We have been given a new name, and there is new training (sanctification) and a new purpose and plan (God’s will rather than our will and desires) if we truly know Jesus as our Savior and Lord. When the world calls for compromise, when our flesh tempts us with desires contrary to the Lord, and when fear of standing out in the crowd raises its head, remember the examples of Joseph and Daniel.
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
