When I was a lad, being steeped
in the traditions and morality of religion, the story of Daniel,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was often used to drive home
the lesson of the benefits of clean living. There was nothing
wrong with this lesson, per se, except that it sums up about
all I was taught about them. While their example of faithfulness
and bravery was being set forth, I don't recall ever being told
the source of their faithfulness, nor the strength in which they
stood. Rather, the emphasis was on what they did to make God
have regard to them, rather than on the one who favored them and
then sustained them in the midst of their trials. Children are
never too young nor are adults ever too old to be taught of
the glories of an absolute God who does all things according
to His purpose and who will preserve those whom He loves with an everlasting
love. An emphasis on the faithfulness
of men, apart from a greater emphasis on the giver of faith
and the sustainer of the faithful, is a message designed to rob
God of the glory due unto His great and mighty name. Some would
tell us that any kind of religion is better than none. This is
a lie. The common denominator in all
of the false religions upon the earth is their emphasis upon
the free will of man and the notion that the efforts and devotion
of men is what causes God to show favor upon them. The foundations
of most religion is largely superstition. Many tell us they believe in
the power of prayer, which is much like the heathen believed
in their shamans with their enchantments, charms, and mysterious ways. Prayer is but a ritualized activity
with most, which is used as one would use a lucky rabbit's foot
or a four-leaf clover. They believe that they shall
be heard for their much praying and devotional exercises. The
majority of religions rely upon their wise men, often called
clergymen, pastors, evangelists, bishops, elders, prophets, apostles,
etc., like Nebuchadnezzar waited upon his. A goodly number of
these witch doctors tour the world, fleecing men of their
money as they make merchandise of the gospel and make their
followers twofold more the children of hell than themselves. There
is hardly a place upon the earth that is not infected with this
sort of superstition, which either waits upon signs and wonders
of a miraculous nature or seeks to impress them with carnal wisdom
and psychological analysis, all the while entertaining them and
teaching them that they hold the key to their own happiness
and success. Nebuchadnezzar had enough carnal
wisdom to understand that if the Chaldean wise men could not
discern the details of his dream without his telling them of it,
then they surely would not be able to interpret it. Sadly,
many among those who pursue religion in the present day do not even
possess the same carnal discernment, but are gladly led by interpreters
all too glad to play the game of religion with them so they
can all be happy, prosperous, and satisfied. The Lord raised
up Daniel to be a faithful messenger unto Nebuchadnezzar. He was humbled
before the Lord and recognized that apart from being given a
revelation of these things from the Lord, he could never discover
them by his own power. Thus he prayed, not because he
superstitiously believed in the power of prayer, but rather because
he believed in the One who is the revealer of secrets. His
trust was in the Lord, not in his own faithfulness, ability,
or activity of praying. He readily testified that there
are secrets which are known only unto the Lord, and that men have
no way of discovering these mysteries except that he should reveal
them. It is bound in the very nature of man to consider that
the blessings of God are bestowed conditionally based upon their
actions, prayers, and faithfulness. Yet the Lord, speaking through
Isaiah, noted the superiority of his thought, which is manifested
in his willingness and purpose to show his mercy and grant his
blessings only according to his purpose, and not according to
the deserving or non-deserving manner of men. All of the secrets
which were thus hidden from the beginning are now made manifest
in him, whose testimony is the spirit of prophecy. Christ is
the Fulfiller and the Fulfillment of those things spoken by the
Prophets of old. What mystery would you discover
which is not found in Him?