Rocky Paths

“The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings…’” Daniel 2:47; “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold…whoever does not fall and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:1,6; “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego…’ Daniel 3:28; “(He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)” Daniel 4:8.

What in the world is wrong with King Nebuchadnezzar? One chapter he is praising God with the passion and zeal of a man who has experienced a life-altering event only to grow cold the next chapter. Time goes by and he experiences another life-altering event with the same God of the universe. Chapters in the Book of Daniel separate the chapters of the king’s life. He praises, he receives and once again he forgets as he travels through his life. Now let’s not judge ol’ King Neb too harshly for we may be no better. His spiritual condition is what is described in Mark as Jesus beautifully described in a parable.

‘Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word, and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time.’ Mark 4:16-17. How many times in our own lives has an urgent need been offered in prayer to God and lovingly met by God? For a while, we are praising His name to all and sharing our testimonies, but then like our king our stories become cold. We return to our self-focused lives and praise to our God ‘only lasts a short time’ until the next urgent need arises.

When we experience God in any situation, that revelation will live fresh in our hearts only if we have allowed God access to grow deep roots. We must spend time in His word, prayer and meditation if we are to build fertile soil upon His truths. Let us not live on spiritual trampolines bouncing around emotionally not anchored in anything, responding to Him only in times of rocky moments.

As we travel chapter to chapter in our lives, let us praise God with more consistency and continuity than that of our wayward king.