Kingdom Horizon

Have you ever felt like a complete stranger in a foreign land?

You know, somewhere you didn’t really belong in the first place?

Within a group of friends? At a bar? In a school? In another culture or country?

Now how hard was it to remain true to your faith in those places of uncertainty? To cling to the cross when everyone was trying to pull you away.

The world is this foreign land for Christians – for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, in God. We’ve all experienced these types of situations in some form or another – whether a momentary call to act out our faith or a long, drawn out season of trials and temptations.

Daniel, when he was just a young boy, along with thousands of other God-fearing Israelites, were overruled and overthrown by a great military force – the Babylonians. This massive entity came in and in an instant took out God’s people; making them prisoners in foreign lands with foreign gods and traditions.

Can you imagine the amount of distress and anxiety going through the young Daniel’s heart, mind and soul?

But from the get-go Daniel held onto His faith in God as tight as he possibly could. And for doing so God gave Daniel His strength to endure years of captivity. Not only did Daniel have strength from God, he also had a boldness to proclaim the truth to his oppressors:

“O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.” (Daniel 4:27)

For his firmness in faith and reliance on God Daniel rose to different levels of power and status in his years of service in Babylon. Through these various positions God was able to use Daniel for the salvation of many and the glorification of His name.

Rather than being changed by the ever-so influential world, Daniel almost single handedly allowed God to influence the lost world around him instead.

It’s absolutely amazing what God can do through a person when their faith is in Him.

Are you finding yourself slowly sinking in the quicksand of this world? Struggling and fighting to find your way back to freedom in Christ? Pray to God! Ask God for wisdom and strength and He will deliver you!

How do I know this? Because God loves us and does not want to make being in His Will hard. He sent Jesus to pay our debts just so He could make this as easy as possible.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke (my will) upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

No matter where you are physically or spiritually, stay firm in your faith for God can do great things through you and for you.