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Paul said he had fought a good fight, he
had finished the race, and he had kept the faith (2Timothy 4:7). But, in this, we
seek to expound on the part that; …I have finished the race..."
By using the word
"race", Paul was only being metaphorical. The exact meaning though was
that if it had been a race, he had successfully made it to the finishing
line.
The final result of one individual participant is not counted on another. That is; the winner of the race is so because of factors of his own. So is the loser. The winner then is rewarded in accordance. The loser is either held in shame or punished accordingly. For this reason, all the guidelines of the race have to be strictly followed. Anyone who cheats on these guidelines faces disqualification.
On this fact, in a race, if one is caught doping and if the race is still ongoing, they are disqualified. If they have already been declared winners, they are stripped of the medal. This is because they have cheated on others by not following the guidelines. One is seemingly a winner, but he/she has not won on fair terms.
On this then, nobody will find themselves in heaven on account of what position they occupied while in this earthly life. For the standard of accessing heaven is absolutely nothing else but RIGHTEOUSNESS. And no one is counted righteous by way of the position they occupy. For righteousness is a matter of the heart and not a literal issue.
For at the starting mark, all the participants have to take off on equal terms. In this same vein, salvation is available to everybody, and all that is required of everyone is to embrace it. Like in a race, the starting mark in salvation is confession of Jesus Christ. What happens thereafter is solely dependent on decisions taken by every individual during the course of the race.
There are challenges in this race. And these challenges are factually undeniable. And all such could be reason for each and every excuse. Yet despite any excuses there be, it should not and does not matter or count at all. One result counts and that is to cross the finishing mark.
Keeping the spirit and following the guidelines (as spelt out) are an integral part of the race. And the winning is to be viewed in this way. The challenges that are faced by each participant in the race have to be dealt with individually. And how each participant goes about such challenges will determine what the outcome should be.
Everyone's aim who is participating in a race is to be winner of it. Nevertheless, what is being spoken of here is not that as Christians, we should aim to race and win against each other. And that is not how it is or should be. No. Not at all.
In this race, we (as Christians) are not of the nature of a contestant or a contender. In this race, we are all participants. The race is open to whoever wishes to participate in it. Yet all the participants can be winner together. It is rather that each participant in this race is obliged to aid another who is found failing in the race.
Worth to note is that; none of the participants has or should have any powers to disapprove another participant. The orchestra of the race is none of the participants. The orchestra of the race is Jesus. Him (Jesus) alone can qualify and disqualify. On this then, whatever we (the participants) do or say against each other is totally misplaced and does not count at all. Our individual opinions change nothing. If anything, the negative things we keep doing and saying about the fellow participants can only affect the author and not the intended target.
This is a race against the devil. Adversarial tendencies should never exist and later alone overcome any of us. We (all Christians) do have a common enemy and that is the devil. And if each one Christian in the race can discern this well, every single individual in it can be winner. We (Christians) can all be winner. The winning being mirrored in this is having made it to heaven. No Christian will access heaven on account of having had the other fail.
The following are some of the hurdles we face while in a race;
- Knocking yourself down,
- You could be pulled down by a fellow participant or
- You could slide off the marked route.
How successful
you are in managing and overcoming such hurdles you encounter during the
race is what will eventually tell the hero in you. For the hurdles will never provide you any slight excuse for failure. It is therefore
incumbent on one to know how to go about the challenges he/she is faced with. It is a personal race. To be winner is a matter of individual decisions and not those of others.
It is never
smooth and it will never be, but it is vital that we cross the finishing mark. On
this account, we should run carefully bearing in mind that there are detractors and abstractions right in the way of the race. It is therefore not a matter of how
many excuses we could give for having failed to cross the mark; it is solely a matter of having crossed the finishing line.
The question therefore looms;
have you crossed the line? If not, you are doomed! For the prize is
singularly given to the winner not the loser, whatever the excuses may
be. The rules and regulations of the race do not provide for excuses.
Have you crossed the line? Yes! Everlasting joy and happiness awaits
you!
This is advice to you and I as Christians, that like how contestants in a
race force themselves through to the finishing line so should we learn
from them (Matthew 7:13-14). We should be Christians with a purpose and a vision (1 Corinthians 9:25-26),
well aware of what lies ahead of us.
Confessing Jesus Christ is one thing, and going all the way is another. We should be proactive while we are continually on our knees praying for God’s grace to sustain us in the race.
Confessing Jesus Christ is one thing, and going all the way is another. We should be proactive while we are continually on our knees praying for God’s grace to sustain us in the race.
The outstanding lesson though should be for us to be wise
Christians. For the devil is cunning and seeks to use our naivety to get
us into a position when we should feel it is too much on us and
therefore not worthy taking.
Jesus says we should be wise enough to be
able to overcome the devil. While others are laboring to make it to heaven, the rest (being used by the devil), are busy not only not minding reaching the mark, but are tirelessly laboring to devastate every single individual there is. This calls for wisdom (Matthew 10:16).
For it is not about our physical strength and ability to participate in
the race, but the discernment, insight and wisdom we apply are equally vital. The devil is hidden behind any physical evil manifestations. The devil is the enemy of the human race.
And many of us lack the fruit of self-control. The devil then uses the spiritual realm to create and orchestrate the detractors in form of objects who are humans. He (the devil) does not only use literal power. He applies both spiritual and literal powers to defeat us (God forbid). And this is mostly so because we lack spiritual discernment, insight and wisdom.
And many of us lack the fruit of self-control. The devil then uses the spiritual realm to create and orchestrate the detractors in form of objects who are humans. He (the devil) does not only use literal power. He applies both spiritual and literal powers to defeat us (God forbid). And this is mostly so because we lack spiritual discernment, insight and wisdom.
Take for example the parable of the ten virgin girls (Matthew 25:1-13).
Five were wise and five were foolish. Mark you, they were all virgins!
The five wise ones acted wisely and entered heaven on that account. The
five foolish ones acted like so and missed heaven on that account. Not
that they had any disbelief in what they did, but one thing lacked;
wisdom. You may miss heaven not on account that you have any doubt that
Jesus is LORD and that it is only through Him that we will meet the
Father, but on account that you lacked in understanding what it is all
about.
For one should be aware of who they are in terms of character, but they should also much be aware of whatever
surrounds us. Your enemy is always with you and that is your sinful nature, only and always aiming to make sure you fail to ever cross the finishing mark (Matthew 10:36).
Man's number ONE and worst enemy is sin
What is sin?
Sin is disobedience to God.
Any Christian's victory is a matter reaching heaven. And that is the principle. All the rest is secondary. Yet in this, the devil is relentless in planning his attacks. The devil will only give up on you upon reaching heaven. Short of that, you are still the devil's target (1Peter 5:7-9).
Sin is disobedience to God.
Any Christian's victory is a matter reaching heaven. And that is the principle. All the rest is secondary. Yet in this, the devil is relentless in planning his attacks. The devil will only give up on you upon reaching heaven. Short of that, you are still the devil's target (1Peter 5:7-9).
Samson was a man of God, and God used him mightily (Judges 16:3). But one thing that Samson had failed to understand; that he was on the devil's target list. The devil knew that once he enticed Samson into sin, his powers would be no more (Judges 16).
Your weak point is only energized by sin. Sin is the devil's weakening, devastating and breaking tool.
Samson had weakness with women (just like anyone human has a weakness). It is upon this that the devil sought to use Delilah to lay ambush of Samson (Judges 16:4-15).
When Samson failed to discern the devil's machinations, he succumbed to sin. And once he succumbed to sin, the devil needed not to apply any more effort. Samson was totally broken and became self defeating (Judges 16:16-21).
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| Samson and Delilah |
When you fall into sin, you become self defeating. Your enemies need not to struggle any more to bring you down after you have sinned. Everyone can only watch while you are being bartered and pounded to pieces. Thank God that He gave us Jesus and that in Jesus, we have another chance. But the cost is high, never take it lightly.
By one's own self, you will never defeat the devil. It is made possible to defeat the devil only by the power availed to us in the grace of God. You can only realize this the day you forsake God. When God departed Samson, he became playing stuff for the Philistines.
A lot of scripture says much about sin. But below is scripture about the effects of sin;
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin takes away God's glory from us.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
1 John 3:4
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. Spiritual lawlessness.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
John 8:34
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Numbers 32:23
But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
Isaiah 57:20-21
But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
Job 15:20-35
"The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless. "Sounds of terror are in his ears; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him. "He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.
John 8:34
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
Proverbs 5:22
His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
James 1:15
Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Ephesians 2:1
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Colossians 2:13
"When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions..." Sin makes one not to be in touch with reality
Isaiah 64:6
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Jeremiah 2:22
"Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me," declares the Lord GOD.
Ezra 9:6
and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.
Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."
Isaiah 59:12-13
For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And we know our iniquities: Transgressing and denying the LORD, And turning away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Deuteronomy 31:18
"But I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods.
Isaiah 1:15
"So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen Your hands are covered with blood.
Isaiah 64:7
There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.
Hosea 5:6
They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.
Micah 3:4
Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds.
Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.
A lot of scripture says much about sin. But below is scripture about the effects of sin;
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin takes away God's glory from us.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
1 John 3:4
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. Spiritual lawlessness.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
John 8:34
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Numbers 32:23
But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
Isaiah 57:20-21
But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
Job 15:20-35
"The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless. "Sounds of terror are in his ears; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him. "He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.
John 8:34
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
Proverbs 5:22
His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
James 1:15
Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Ephesians 2:1
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Colossians 2:13
"When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions..." Sin makes one not to be in touch with reality
Isaiah 64:6
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Jeremiah 2:22
"Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me," declares the Lord GOD.
Ezra 9:6
and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.
Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."
Isaiah 59:12-13
For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And we know our iniquities: Transgressing and denying the LORD, And turning away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Deuteronomy 31:18
"But I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods.
Isaiah 1:15
"So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen Your hands are covered with blood.
Isaiah 64:7
There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.
Hosea 5:6
They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.
Micah 3:4
Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds.
Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.
Utmost strength is in righteousness. Righteousness is the strongest weapon over any other.
What is righteousness?
Righteousness can be defined as the right standing with God.
Righteousness is also a state when one is in agreement with God.
Scripture tells us that it is in righteousness that we stand strong (Isaiah 54:14). God's throne is founded on righteousness (Psalms 89:14). God is right with Himself.
Righteousness is the weapon which makes anyone conquer any and everywhere. It is the weapon over any thing else that is (2Corinthians 6:7). Because of Righteousness, simple Daniel conquered the kingdom of the fierce hungry lions.
Righteousness is not something one can simply claim. No. Not at all. Righteousness is a matter to be lived. And if we live it, then we can be assured of God's presence upon our lives. If you have God's presence upon your life, you will command things and they will surely be.
Righteousness gives us command. Jesus performed miracles and wonders not because He was simply Jesus. No. Not at all. Jesus was and He is Son of God. Yet things happened by His command because He followed the course of Righteousness. Jesus did perform miracles and wonders because God was with Him (Acts 10:38). If you have God upon your life, nations will bow before you and everything there is. A Righteous person can never be overtaken by a bit of evil fear. The story of Daniel gives us the perfect example (Daniel 6).
Despite all the accusations placed on Daniel (because of God's favor on him over anyone else in the Medes and the Persian kingdom, and for worshiping his God, and despite all the threats posed before him if he did not give up worshiping his God), he carried on worshiping God because he knew he was rightly doing the right thing (Daniel 6:10). When you are doing the right thing, you will surely be held in strength.
Yet the accusers will not relent and will never stop. They will keep laying ambush (Daniel 6:12). It calls for the wisdom of God to overcome such ambushes. And when they lay these ambushes, they will seem successful, but if you keep with God, they are doomed to fail (Daniel 6:16). Your accusers will try to make sure you are totally destroyed (Daniel 6:17).
Yet not everyone one hates you (Daniel 6:18). The king Darius was deeply grieved when Daniel was thrown in the den of lions.
But we also ought to take care that our worst enemies can be seemingly our best friends. The person who entices you into sin, will after having you in the act turn out to taunt you all the rest of your life. He will keep wondering what a Christian you claimed you are!!!???
God will always save the righteous from all danger (Daniel 6:20). But even if He does not literally save you (as He did to Daniel by shutting the mouths of the lions), you stand assured of reward when you stand before God the Father. For no man can give another salvation. Men (being used by the devil) only seek to destroy you. Only God will bring you the joy of salvation.
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| Daniel in the den of lions |
We also ought to notice how vital it is to remain respectful of those placed before us as leaders. Daniel remained respectful of the king despite the king having witnessed him being thrown into the den of lions (Daniel 6:21). For being right with God entails submission to those in leadership. No matter they detest you.
Then eventually, your innocence of sin before God will ensure you stand in victory (Daniel 6:22). You will surely be part of the testimony of God (Ezekiel 14:14, 18, 20). Lack of it will surely leave you helpless and totally devastated.
Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Proverbs 21:21
Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.
1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Psalm 37:28
For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
Proverbs 21:2
A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
Psalm 112:6
Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Proverbs 21:3
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
Proverbs 11:18
A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
In a nutshell, while Daniel was defiant in the face of sin, Samson fell prey to it. Daniel did not resist being thrown in the den of lions because he stood right in righteousness. He did not expect the hungry lions not to feast on him, but he never gave in to intimidation and coercion into submission.
Daniel knew that the source of fear is sin. What would happen to him in the den was not an issue. For whether the lions were to eat him or not, he cared only standing before God not as a loser.
Daniel knew that sin is what is destructive and not being feasted on by the lions. And was drawn out of the den of the hungry lions alive and unhurt (Daniel 6:23).
In this, what dents an individual is not what is aimed at them by others (in whatever form) say; provocations, insults abuse etc. Defeat comes from how one chooses to respond to what is aimed at him/her by the rest. The decision one takes in response to a provocation is what makes one either right or wrong before God. Mark you, what counts is how God views an individual and not how the rest will judge you.
A righteous person has strong faith in God, and on this, they will not fight for or seek to defend themselves. He/she has utmost confidence that whatever people's opinions may be, such opinions carry absolutely nothing because God is the final judge.
For a person's composure and calmness in handling and going about a matter will tell where their utmost trust is. Daniel did not resist anything that was planned on or done against him because he had his trust in God. God will always defend a righteous person.
On the other hand though, Samson was so weakened by sin. He had lost hope of ever making it in life. His only prayer was; let me die with the Philistines (Judges 16:30). He surely died with them. Yet he had been sent to save them.
A man of God is not to die with the rest out of the weight of sin. A man of God is to work with God to save souls. If people refuse to take the message you are passing on to them, then let them die on their own account, but not to perish with you. Samson lacked purpose at the end of it all.
Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Proverbs 21:21
Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.
1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Psalm 37:28
For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
Proverbs 21:2
A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
Psalm 112:6
Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Proverbs 21:3
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
Proverbs 11:18
A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
In a nutshell, while Daniel was defiant in the face of sin, Samson fell prey to it. Daniel did not resist being thrown in the den of lions because he stood right in righteousness. He did not expect the hungry lions not to feast on him, but he never gave in to intimidation and coercion into submission.
Daniel knew that the source of fear is sin. What would happen to him in the den was not an issue. For whether the lions were to eat him or not, he cared only standing before God not as a loser.
Daniel knew that sin is what is destructive and not being feasted on by the lions. And was drawn out of the den of the hungry lions alive and unhurt (Daniel 6:23).
In this, what dents an individual is not what is aimed at them by others (in whatever form) say; provocations, insults abuse etc. Defeat comes from how one chooses to respond to what is aimed at him/her by the rest. The decision one takes in response to a provocation is what makes one either right or wrong before God. Mark you, what counts is how God views an individual and not how the rest will judge you.
A righteous person has strong faith in God, and on this, they will not fight for or seek to defend themselves. He/she has utmost confidence that whatever people's opinions may be, such opinions carry absolutely nothing because God is the final judge.
For a person's composure and calmness in handling and going about a matter will tell where their utmost trust is. Daniel did not resist anything that was planned on or done against him because he had his trust in God. God will always defend a righteous person.
On the other hand though, Samson was so weakened by sin. He had lost hope of ever making it in life. His only prayer was; let me die with the Philistines (Judges 16:30). He surely died with them. Yet he had been sent to save them.
A man of God is not to die with the rest out of the weight of sin. A man of God is to work with God to save souls. If people refuse to take the message you are passing on to them, then let them die on their own account, but not to perish with you. Samson lacked purpose at the end of it all.
While Samson's body was carried away for burial (Judges 6:31), the God of Daniel was being exalted for saving Daniel from the fury of his enemies who had tricked the king into throwing him in the den of the hungry lions. And the king declared that no other God should be worshiped other than the God of Daniel (Daniel 6:25-28).
I can't wait to imagine a guard of honor being staged for Daniel both in the Spiritual realm and in the literal world for insisting on standing in righteousness while faced with such overwhelming force of evil, intimidation and coercion.
In all this then, following the guidelines and keeping the rules and the regulations are part of the win. None of them (the guidelines, rules and regulations) is or should be held in isolation (2Timothy 2:5). For in such, you are counted outstanding of all of the rest. You must be genuine in your win with the observance of all instructions which have been laid before you.
We must be purposeful and visionary Christians.
We must be purposeful and visionary Christians.
Well said. Thanks and glory to God.
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