To be fully HUMAN — A Daily Reflection

 

 

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

 

Have you ever stood on the edge of a cliff?  What would happen if you took just one step?  Obviously, you would fall, probably to your death, but most assuredly to destruction of your body.

 

This is how Daniel looked at eating the meat and wine given to them from the king’s table.  It’s possible that the meat was pork, a meat forbidden to Jews.  But then, it might not have been.  It may have been perfectly allowable meat to Jewish dietary standards.  And Jews certainly drank wine, so this could not have been the problem.  The problem was that by accepting the meat and wine, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would have taken the first step in shifting their loyalty away from God and toward Nebuchadnezzar and the gods of Babylon .

 

I remember the first time I stood at the top of one of those water slides.  The view from the top was terrifying.  I was ready to turn around and walk all the way back down the stairs rather than take the first step toward sliding down that twisting shoot.  But I saw everyone around me having such a good time - so excited to be sliding down that scary slide - that finally I summoned my courage and stepped off… and found the thrill of the ride incredible.  I couldn’t wait to get back to the top and slide down again and again and again!  After that first, difficult step, I was a total advocate of water slides!

 

Moving away from God is the same.  We might hesitate at the first step.  But we see those around us having such a good time… so excited to be participating in a secular lifestyle… so enthused at being a part of what the world has to offer… so we take that first step.  And just like the water slide, the first step takes us ever downward - but instead of toward a fun, splashy ending, it leads us toward destruction.

 

When you’re tempted to take a step away from God’s will, remember the water slide.  Then remember resolve of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  They refused to take the first step, no matter how tempting.  And God blessed them, just as He will bless you.