The Cost of Faithfulness

 

Sermon Daniel 6:1-23 September 26, 2021

The Cost of Faithfulness

Once again, the bible sheds light on how the conflicts of this world are always present. The story of Daniel in the lion’s den is as relevant today as it was to the people in exile in Babylon. It is a story about how God’s faithfulness is present even and especially when laws, faith, and life collide.

There is a Christian song that has been a powerful testament to the struggle of the many changes in the church and the rapidly changing world. It encourages to stand firm in faith even when it collides with trends of the church, community, nation, or world. It is written by the Christian music group ‘4Him’. The song title is Future Generations. The first part goes: The signs are obvious, they are everywhere
All that we hear about is the gloom and despair
Too many would be prophets saying
It's the end of it all
…

So I won't bend and I won't break
I won't water down my faith
I won't compromise in a world of desperation
What has been I cannot change
But for tomorrow and today
I must be a light for future generations

If we could find a way to preserve our faith
So those who follow us
See the price that was paid
Then maybe when they question
What it's gonna take to survive
They'll find the strength to carry on
In what we leave behind

Daniel’s story reveals the wonder and miracle of God’s victory over death. It is a story that the people in exile clung to. It is a story the people of Israel carried with them into their future during more difficult times. It propels us toward Jesus who also was sent to his death and sealed with a stone. It reminds all of us of the salvation that God has for his people. God raises those who are in the deep and brings them to new life.

Against all odds God remains with us to get us through the adversities we face.

But, what about the times that make no sense? What about the wars? What about the murders, the abuse, the accidents? What about those who misuse power and those who manipulate justice?  What about the suffering we face at the hands of those who sin against us?

Daniel’s story reminds us that taking a stand makes a difference. It reminds us that God stood firm with grace with Daniel and through Jesus Christ and will continue through all future generations.

Because it is in those very moments when injustice seeks to destroy that we witness a God who overcomes the sin and dies with it in order to save it. Jesus went to his death, was raised up, and in his new life, we have new life in him.

God takes a stand for us when we can’t see it. God takes a stand for the sin even when all we see is the pit of lions. God takes a stand for us even when our men and women are going off to battle and we don’t know if they are coming back. God takes a stand for us when despair overtakes and overwhelms us.

No storm can shake our inmost heart when to the rock we’re clinging. Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can we keep from singing. The metaphor of the lion’s den and the tomb both point to the depth of the cost of faithfulness on our part and on God’s part.

Gary Sinise is an actor who played the lieutenant in the movie Forrest Gump. He has a foundation to reach out and provide opportunities for veterans. He recently said this at his speech at the 20^th anniversary of 9/11.  “I can most certainly say that what happened to our country on September 11, 2001 broke my heart and changed me forever. It forced me to rethink everything. What do I really believe? How do I want to raise my kids? What kind of example do I want to set for them? How can I use my good fortune to help? During this journey from self to service, along the way I’ve met heroic individuals whose actions left a profound effect on me.” A turning point occurred for him in the midst of tragedy. He chose to stand firm for the things that helped him answer the questions he had before him. For Gary it was the depth of patriotism that rose within him at the loss of so many on that day. It was his faith in God as he stood in prayer with his family at church that evening. It was in a moment of helplessness that he rose with determination to take a stand.

The story of Daniel sets the tone for those same questions for us as we live in this future generation. What are the stands we are willing to take in our journey from self to service?

Sometimes laws are made that trap the makers of the law more than those the law seeks to inhibit. Unchangeable human laws set the trap for the maker who is then held to a standard to uphold them even when there is evidence that puts more harm for the guilty than would ever be necessary. An example was the zero tolerance drug laws of the 90’s.

We know God’s law is absolute and unchangeable, but we have witnessed God is greater than his own law. Abraham was able to alter God’s actions. Moses was able to persuade God. Jacob was able to wrestle with God. Others were able to argue, bargain, and test God and challenge his immutable (absolute) laws.

Daniel’s story though is not about challenging God’s law but how his faithfulness to God’s law comes in direct conflict with the newly made king’s law. It is a testimony of the cost of faithfulness. He is placed in the position that if he continues his daily routine of praying three times a day, he will face death if he is caught. Daniel chooses to continue his routine without interruption despite the law. He doesn’t go out in public and protest. He doesn’t argue before the king. He does nothing publicly to challenge the law. He just quietly carries out civil disobedience in the privacy of his home. What was once legal has now become illegal. What is worse for Daniel is that those who wish him harm have invaded his privacy and called him out. The king at this point is full of grief as he discovers the impact of his new law. He calls on Daniel’s God to save him.

Daniel descends to the lion pit and it is sealed. The king despairs for Daniel. It is his conversion that becomes as much a miracle as the salvation of Daniel. The king spends the night in prayer and fasting and runs the next morning to find out if Daniel’s God has saved him. Daniel emerged from the pit completely unharmed. His faith in God had not only saved him but also the king. The king ends up making a new decree declaring that the living God of Daniel endures forever and his kingdom shall have no end. The king continues the declaration that Daniel’s God delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. Jesus also could not be kept in the pit by a stone to seal it. Jesus rose from the grave and in him we have new life.

As we continue into this season of emerging and reuniting, we have had much time to ponder the things that matter most. It is important for us to choose the questions that will turn the tide for us as we seek God’s guidance to be faithful. How do we discover God’s call upon us as we move from self to service? We witness in Paul’s life how he met the conflict to his faith as a turning point that changed the course of his religious convictions to a stand for love and grace in Jesus.

Daniel and so many after him took a stand, a costly stand of faith. They did it not for themselves but for future generations. It is so wonderful to be among you and all you do for this community and set the example for others to do the same.

These final words of the song, “ Lookin' in the eyes of the children
Knowing that tomorrow is at stake
When the choice is up to them
Will they have the strength to say

We won't bend and we won't break
We won't water down our faith
We won't compromise in a world of desperation
What has been we cannot change
For tomorrow and today
We must be a light for future generations

We are walking in the light of joy and wonderful things are occurring around us. Let us continue to be on the move with them. Amen.

 

Resources: Interpretation Daniel-Sibley Towner; NIB Daniel-Daniel L. Smith-Christopher; Working Preacher Daniel Nov 29, 2020 Roger Nam; Gary Sinise Foundation-Garysinisefoundation.org