The Example of Daniel

We have a mandate to be lights in the darkness that surrounds us. We may think it is too difficult or it has become too dark or give any number of other excuses. Fortunately we have the example of Daniel.

Daniel was carried off from his homeland of Israel to the pagan land of Babylon. There he was trained in the teachings of that society. In the midst of that training he chose to not defile himself with the meats and wine. (Dan. 1:8) At the conclusion of the training he was found to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers of the land. (Dan. 1:20)

Later, as a result of God showing Daniel the king's dream and giving him the interpretation of that dream King Nebuchadnezzar made him ruler over the province and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. (Dan. 2:48) You might think that the power in addition to living amongst pagans and ruling over those involved in occult practices may corrupt him. But Daniel remained steadfast and continued to walk in wisdom and revelation from the Lord God Almighty.

Even once the Mede and Persians conquered Babylon, Daniel continued in a place of ruler-ship and maintained his relationship with the Lord. King Darius made Daniel the first of three presidents in the land because of his "excellent spirit". Being put in this place of leadership caused others to be jealous and seek to have Daniel killed by making it illegal to pray to anyone but the king. They knew Daniel was so committed to prayer that this would surely get him. Sure enough, even though it was illegal Daniel continued his practice of praying three times a day and ended up in the lions’ den. We all know how that turned out. Daniel was kept safe by the angel of the Lord and the men who had tried to get Daniel killed were eaten by the lions. (Dan. ch. 6)

So we see in the life of Daniel a man that from a very young age stood firmly and let his light shine as a man of God. The result was for kings to acknowledge the living God as the supreme ruler that He is because Daniel remained steadfast in the midst of a pagan land.

Check out these results:

Daniel 2: 47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Daniel 6:25-27 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.