Excelling in dark days

These are certainly interesting times we are living in. As we see our culture changing we must ask this question: How do we defend our faith with dignity and character?

To find the answer to this we look to the Book of Daniel 1:1-9, The Book of Daniel shows us how we can excel in dark days.

Here are a few things we need to about Daniel. Daniel was 15 years old when he was captured from Judah and brought to Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the nation of Judah. He was the strongest emperor of that era. Nebuchadnezzar took the brightest and the best teenagers back to Babylon. There, back in Babylon, the king changed their names, changed their language and changed their culture. Daniel was in exile from 15 years old to the age of 85 years old.

Here is the thing we must understand: Daniel excelled in a very dark place, and through many administrations, until he was second in command of Babylon. God honored Daniel’s witness. One thing they could not take from Daniel was his witness of who he was in the Lord. According to verse one, God used an evil king to bring his will to pass in Daniel’s life. God will use evil things to bring his will to pass in your life. Romans 12:2 says, “Be not conformed to this world: (NIV here says the patterns of this world) but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”s

It is in the middle of the bad things, the evil things, and the things we just do not understand that we usually cry out, “Where are you, God?” Though it is in that place we seem to want to be mad at God because he seems to be so silent. We want to run from him and yet, where we find the God of the universe is right there in the middle of it all with us. Daniel did not forget the training and the discipleship that his parents trained him up in. Nebuchadnezzar took everything that was valuable from Judah and planned to make it invaluable. What we believe in is very valuable: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Crucifixion and Resurrection.

The children exiled to Babylon went through three years of training. There was a motive, change their culture, their learning, and their tongue. As part of the changing of their culture they would have to consume the King’s meat and wine. In verses 6 and 7, Daniel said, “I cannot consume of the king’s meat.” He was taught Godly values and the king’s meat was offered to idols. Daniel requested that he only eat vegetables and water. Daniel honored the position of those over him and in doing so he received favor from God.

Daniel never compromised his witness on the way to the top. When he was told not to pray, he opened the shutters of his upper room and prayed over the city.

There are three things we must have to excel in dark days. We must make a commitment to be a transformer. Transformed into God’s image and not conformed by the patterns of this world. We must always put God first. Daniel would not let the Babylonians take his faith.

We must also have a spirit of excellence. We must ask ourselves, “What am I learning? What am I changing? What am I applying to my life?”

In a time when confusion is found all around us, let us never forget if God is for us then nothing can be against us.

Dave Truncone is the pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. He and his wife, Heidi, have been married 26 years. They have two daughters, Hannah, 20, and Abigail, 16. They have lived in Van Buren for nine years.