DAILY HOMILIES #nebuchadnezzar

Belshazzar knew what those vessels were meant for, but he attempted to challenge God’s existence. This experience teaches us to avoid taking God for granted. The fact that God is silent does not mean He is weak. God is a merciful father; He is also a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 reads, “For our God is a consuming fire.” Deuteronomy 4:24 says, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Psalm 18:8 says, “Smoke rose from his nostrils, and consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.”

While Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was about the future, we also see Jesus, in our Gospel passage, discussing the future: the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the rise of many false prophets claiming they are the Christ. This teaches us one lesson: The only person who knows the future is the one who is already in the future – God. Humans can only guess based on calculations from the past.

The psalmist sings: “Let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not.” The question is – why did they forget God in the first place? Why did they worship false gods? Like the Israelites, we are fond of asking, “Where is God?” in crisis, but while enjoying peace and success, we say: “Who is God?”

The problem with Christianity is that we have too many vendors but very few consumers. Many Christians are convinced about the truth of the Gospel, in theory, but practically deny it by their actions. I was preaching somewhere, and a woman in the congregation shouted: “Father, tell them! Yes. Tell them,” Why do we believe the Gospel is for “them” and not for me?

The Jews were determined to kill Jesus (just as Nebuchadnezzar wanted to kill the boys), not knowing that death was not the end but only the beginning of a greater life. The three Hebrew boys entered the fire as slaves of the King, but when they came out of the fiery burning furnace, they became gods to the King. Jesus willingly embraced death on the cross, but when He came out of the fire of death, He shone brightly.

Whenever we call on God, He is always ready to forgive. Nevertheless, are we ready to extend His forgiveness to others? Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel passage teaches us what becomes of us when we refuse to extend God’s mercy to those who hurt us.

The fact that “everybody is doing it” does not make it right. Hold on to your convictions. For putting Him first, God did not disappoint Daniel and his friends. Learn to give God His due, and He will never disappoint you. Even if others laugh at you or call you names, remain different.

As Jesus would advise us, we should not be so concerned about the future. Avoid running from one priest (or pastor) to another hoping they would tell your future. Bear in mind that it is not every dream that is a revelation. God is not limited to dreams.