https://odb.org/MY/2023/01/11/out-of-the-lions-den
In Daniel 6:10-23, we can read the account of Daniel, an exile from Judah in Persia who was thrown unto the lions’ den for praying to the LORD when King Darius had issued a decree that no one is to pray to anyone but him for the next 30 days. But Daniel was a trusted administrator in the King’s court, and thus, the King was distressed with the situation as he could not go against his own decree. The King, in throwing Daniel into the lions’ den, had hoped that the God that Daniel had faithfully served will rescue him and the King could not sleep that night while waiting to see the outcome of his punishment. In the morning, King Darius immediately rushed to enquire of Daniel and was relieved to hear his voice that he was well and that an angel had come in the night and closed the mouth of the lions and thus Daniel was unharmed.
A similar incident happened in Daniel 3 when Daniel’s 3 Hebrew friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – were thrown into a burning furnace but were also unharmed, saved by the God they had faithfully served. In that case, it was a golden image, and the King was Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. But the most touching phrase uttered by them was in verses 17 amd 18, where they said that their God whom they serve is able to rescue them but even if He does not, they will still not serve the Babylonian gods or worship the golden image.
Yesterday, we spoke about the second coming of Christ with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, and thus, there are those who believe that He will come again within the human generation of 1948, meaning within 80 to 100 years thereof. Some believe that as true believers, we will be raptured when the Lord returns, and yet some believe that rapture will only occur after the great tribulation of three and a half years. We will know for sure when it occurs, but I just like to remind us that if rapture does not occur before the great tribulation, then Daniel 3:17-18 will be the model for us to look up to if we need to choose whether to take the mark of the beast to continue to buy and sell in the world then.
We may need to be self-sufficient during the period of the great tribulation, but most importantly is that if we need to make a choice between death and worshipping the golden image, we have the example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and Daniel. The examples are that God rescued them, but the spirit is that even if God doesn’t, we will still not worship the gods of Babylon or worship the golden image made and decreed by King Nebuchadnezzar or bow down to King Darius of Persia!
Since the day the LORD, our God, the Great I Am, called Abraham out of the Url of the Caldeans, and since the days of Christ crucified and resurrected, there would have been many saved and rescued for not bowing down to Kings and Emperors and other gods, yet we know that countless many were also martyred on the account of our God and Christ. Church history and the Dark Ages are testimonials of the martyrdom of many early believers. Did the evil one manage to eradicate the faith from the face of the earth? No! The fact that our faith prevailed till today with millions embracing Jesus in their lives is a testament that God saved and rescued many, that the crucified and resurrected Christ could not be contained!
The day may come, sooner than later, when we may be called upon by Kings and Emperors of the day to make a choice. Remember Daniel 3:17-18 and Daniel 6 if we need to face that day!
Ronnie's Thoughts 