Skip to main content

Be a History Maker

History was one of the subjects that I loved.  I did not love the memorization work, but I loved the stories and the background they gave to present times.  It is sad that some modern governments try to hide parts of history for the benefit of their political agendas.  Nevertheless, educated and networked citizens would know better.  They know the true history and will not succumb to history presentations that have a propaganda laced agenda.  There is one story that people tend to label as fable, but because it involves a recognized king in history and the records date close enough to the event, it can be recognized as being true.

Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Most of us would have read today's chapter in Daniel, or at least heard it in a sermon. 3 Jewish men full of the Holy Spirit proclaimed with great boldness that they will NOT worship the gods of King Nebuchadnezzar in spite of them being potentially thrown into the furnace. The king was obviously impressed in the end. He saw a fourth person that looked like a heavenly figure, and the three came out totally unscathed. What a testimony. These guys were prepared to die for their faith, but in the end the king instituted a new decree to honor God.

Daniel 3:28-29 NKJV
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!  Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

This story reminds me of what Paul said in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Either way we win. No loss! By having this attitude or mindset, Daniel's 3 friends became history makers. God is calling each of us to become history makers within our own situations. We have a unique call to be history makers for at least one other, if not the whole world. Daniel's 3 friends became history makers for the king of Babylon, and eventually the whole world. In fact a new law was passed because of them.

Father, help me heed the call to be a history maker for someone today.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

My Journey of Faith

Sreedhar standing to the left of his grandfather in the center Almost 55 years ago a son was born to a Hindu family.  The parents were 2nd generation Malaysians raised in a rubber estate near a small town called Sungei Petani in Northern Malaya at that time.  This first child was given much love and care by their parents and had the privilege of growing up in 3 different states of Malaysia, most of which was in Petaling Jaya.  He was blessed with his first domestic airplane ride when he was 10 years old, and made his first trip by airplane to Bangkok at the age of 11.  In the mid 1970's the family moved to a large house in a relatively exclusive neighborhood in Petaling Jaya. This was a result of the favor his father, aged about 35 at that time, had in the workplace,. As a result, this son grew up in a mostly multicultural environment with Indian, Chinese and Malay children.  In the process, his perspectives became cosmopolitan and racially neutral.  On...

Stand and raise your hands

I apologize if I offend anyone, but I feel free to lift up my hands when I worship the Lord.  I would do it while standing up.  It is only natural when you are worshiping the Almighty God, creator of heaven of earth.  He is after all the God loves me and redeemed me by dying on the dying on the cross.  The Psalmist agrees with me on this one. Psalm 134:1-2 Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. There are key elements to be observed here in this chapter being shared by the Psalmist. The familiar ones are us blessing God, doing it with hands raised, we doing this as servants of God. But a new element that I did not see before is doing all this at night, though it may have been said in other parts of the Word. The Psalmist ends with acknowledging God as the one who made heaven and earth. Reflection from 2016: Speaks to me about ...

All must engage

There are so many conflicts in the world today that it is very difficult to keep up. The other day I shared about the problems in Venezuela. And then there are more bombings aimed at Israel. And yet again, notwithstanding that some of you reading this may feel it unfair, Israel is preserved. Psalm 69:35-36, For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it. Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, And those who love His name shall dwell in it. There is a promise, and only God knows how it will be fulfilled. The impossible becomes possible because God is in charge. The trajectory for His Word to go forth to all peoples is set. Much evil is trying to prevent this. But, no weapons formed against us shall succeed. The technologies in place today allows instant reach of billions. The people of God have been prepared for this day, and now must be mobilized to engage in this ministry of reconciliation. There is no time to waste wh...

Marriage is permanent

I am in the last chapter of the Song of Solomon and it continues in intensity about the value of love. It is priceless. It is equated to a mother's love in some sense. Money cannot buy it. The Song of Solomon 8:2 I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, She who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate. If your interest is temporary illicit love, stop because it cannot be bought or earned. It is a God thing. Our relationship with our beloved wife is like a mother's. Do not take it lightly as it is a new permanent relationship. Don't enter it in haste. Consider it carefully and once the relationship is consummated it is permanent. Someone asked Lee Yen how many years we have been married.  I am not sure why the question was asked.  My relationship with Lee Yen is as permanent as my relationship with my Mum. Yes, till death do us apart. Praise God. Father, thank you for the wife...

I have decided to do right today

Have you been told off for something that you may or may not have done wrong?  How did you feel?  I usually feel rotten.  I get a mix of guilt and anger, but these situations have tremendously reduced with my growing relationship with God.  You want to say many things to justify your actions (or inaction), but it is usually of little value.  Accept everything said (or written) as good feedback, and do better the next time. Amos 1:2 And he said: “The LORD roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers.” Amos the prophet must have been in great fear as he spoke. So many negative things against so many people. The pronouncement of judgement can make you angry or repent.  I am reminded of King David's reaction to Nathan the prophet when he confronted him about his relationship with Bathsheba. He cried out to God and repented. Many of Israel's kings never repented and the Lord c...

276 Safe - An appropriate headline for a miracle

Are we there yet? I can just hear my children asking, when they were young. When you are on a long journey, or even a short one, children get restless about being confined to a car during a journey.  I do not blame them because they have limited or no historical experience to rely on. Thankfully the mode of transport available to us today is diverse and efficient to get us to a place faster than years ago in the days of animal drawn carriages and wind driven vessels. In Paul's days the best way for him to travel to Rome was on a sailing ship. Acts 27:2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. This was no cruise ship. And after boarding this regional vessel, they transferred to a ship going to Italy. But the weather conditions were against them unexpectedly. Seasoned sailors made the wrong call. A teacher of the law and now tentmaker was "giving advise" not to sail...