I have heard some people say that they would become Christians if God would only show them His power through miracles or appear before them and tell them to repent. It should be so simple that God would simply need to show His splendor and all would believe, but life rarely is so simple. The reality is that God has come to earth in Jesus Christ, yet this did not convince the majority of people in that time, and even now most are still unimpressed. God shows His splendor through the intricacy of His creation, and people still say there is no God. Miracles have been performed throughout time, but people will still not repent. Unfortunately, there are some who will remain obstinate regardless of what God has done or will do. In Babylon, we see such an example. When Nebuchadnezzar has a dream which no one can interpret but Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar says in Daniel 2:37, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery. And yet, in Daniel 3 Nebuchadnezzar makes a gold idol ninety feet high and orders all the people to worship it. When three Jews will not worship this idol, he then throws them into a furnace, but even the fire cannot destroy them because God will not allow it. Afterwards in verse 29, Nebuchadnezzar says, "No other god can save in this way." Again in chapter 4, Daniel interprets a dream for Nebuchadnezzar in which he is told that he will go insane for seven years if he is prideful and will not acknowledge that it is God who holds all the power. Even so, Nebuchadnezzar still claims that his power is his own, and the dream is fulfilled. At the end of the chapter in verses 34-37, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that God is the true ruler of the world and is worthy of all honor and praise. What fascinates me is that in all this, Nebuchadnezzar says that God is above all, but he does not give up his worship of other gods. In the same way, there are those who recognize the existence of God and even His power and the mighty works of His hands, but they will not stop seeking earthly things or worshiping other gods. The Bible says that our God is a jealous God. Much like you and I could not put up with a cheating lover, God cannot put up with those who acknowledge Him but will not turn from other endeavors. Such people are not Christians. They know of God, but they do not follow Him. As James 2:19 says, even the demons believe in God and fear Him, but they do not follow His ways. It is therefore imperative that we ask ourselves this question: Do we, like Nebuchadnezzar, simply believe in God, or do we follow Him as Daniel did? One is truly a Christian, and the other is just a tragedy, much like a man who has a fully curable disease and is aware of the cure, but dies because he refuses treatment. - Nate
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 03:05:57 +0000
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