Friday, September 07, 2012 - a few inspiring lessons

Friday, September 07, 2012
A few inspiring lessons

What a powerful reading today!!! King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the
most powerful man in the world during the mid-500 BC years became a
believer in the Great "I AM." Three awesome lessons I learned from
today's reading:

1. No one is a lost cause – If God can rescue the most powerful,
proud, unbelieving man in the world, then God can rescue anyone. Think
about it; King Nebuchadnezzar ruled the greatest empire of his time.
Every nation surrounding Babylon had submitted to his rule. Not to
mention the fact that Nebuchadnezzar achieved this status while
worshipping false gods and not believing in the one true God. He had
even witnessed God's miraculous signs in his early life, yet turned
away – Miracle one: Daniel by God's power interpreted a dream for him
that no one else in the land could. Miracle two: Nebuchadnezzar had
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown into a fiery furnace (for not
worshipping a gold statue he created) and watched them walk out
unscathed. Furthermore, the God (the only God) that he came to
believe in was of a people he ruled over. Nevertheless, God made a way
for this man to believe and be transformed. Don't lose hope in those
you love. Pray without cease.

2. No matter what we've been through, the glory and pleasure we have
in knowing God surpasses all – Nebuchadnezzar had to go through a
difficult time in order to know the Lord. At the same time,
Nebuchadnezzar wasn't bitter about his humbling experience. He was
actually grateful for his experience because it brought him to God
(our greatest reward in this life and the next). He even said, "Now I,
Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven,
because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And
those who walk in pride he is able to humble." (Daniel 4:37) In the
same way, whatever we have gone through in this life that has brought
us to the Lord; or whatever we're going through that is bringing us
back to Him, we must become better for it. As Pastor Scott says, "we
either become bitter or better." And as the Apostle Paul said, "For
our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:17)

3. As believers, we should be confident about the future – This past
week, I heard about some elderly people in a non-Christian religious
service not being confident about where they were going; heaven or
hell. They wondered whether they had done enough good and/or little
enough bad in their life to get into heaven. They were certain that
they were facing a judge, but they weren't certain how they'd be
judged. Once Nebuchadnezzar knew God, he was confident about being
with Him in eternal glory one day. "At the end of that time, I,
Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was
restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him
who lives forever." (Daniel 4:34) Remember what Tim Tebow said, "I
don't know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future."
Let's be confident in the one who holds our future.

Hebrews 10:19-25
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter
the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way
opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we
have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God
with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,
having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and
having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly
to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us
consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but
encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.

God Bless,
Anthony