"Dare To Be A
Daniel"
Daniel 1:8
Daniel lived in a time of Divine judgment
upon his nation. The vast majority of the people of his land despised God and
his commandments. Therefore God sent
In Babylon Daniel was assigned to the
service of the king. But everything in that heathen society blasphemed God.
Idolatry was rampant. Immorality was promoted in the name of religion,
enlightenment, and freedom. Because of his assigned position, Daniel was
assigned a luxurious diet of foods and drinks that had been offered to idols.
Eating such food was clearly forbidden in the Scriptures. So Daniel quietly, but
resolutely refused to do so. In the midst of a wicked, oppressive, perverse
society, "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile
himself." He might have suffered greatly for his decision. But as he
resolved to honor God, God began to display his favor toward and blessing upon
Daniel (I Sam.
We live in similar circumstances. In this
society the house of God has been raped, the gospel of God has been
prostituted, and the name of God is everywhere blasphemed. We live in a
generation under the judgment of God! Our government appears to have no purpose
other than the promotion of homosexuality, fornication, abortion, and the
complete destruction of moral principle. In our schools the name of God cannot
be mentioned, except to blaspheme it, but in the name of morality young
children are taught how to commit fornication "safely"! In the media,
in the schools, in the White House, in the congress, and in the churches of
this country rebellion against God is promoted, often in the name of God!
As believers in this decadent society, we
must draw the line, like Daniel. We must resolve by the grace of God not to
defile ourselves by yielding to the pressures of a heathen culture. As the
children of God, we must constantly separate ourselves from the pagan
influences around us (II Cor.
"Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known!"
Don Fortner