We all know that sometimes it isn’t easy to be thankful, but thankfulness shouldn’t depend upon our feelings about what’s happening at the moment. A child might live in a very loving family, but does that child truly feel thankful for a warm bed at night, or parents that set boundaries? That child is very much like each one of us. We tend to take our blessings for granted.
God has given us everything, including forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, but are we thankful? There’s always something to grumble about. The Jones family has a bigger house. The Smith family regularly take exotic vacations. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson both have high-paying jobs. There’s always someone who will seem to be more blessed and happier, but you never know how high the mortgage is, or what other troubles other people face. Are they thankful, or, like you, do they want more?
The Apostle Paul spent a lot of time facing tough situations, such as shipwrecks, beatings, snakebites, and jail in dungeons. That isn’t exactly a life that sounds like he had much to be thankful for, but he was very thankful. After all, Paul had been full of unrepentant sin, but when he met Jesus, he knew he was forgiven and was a changed man. His anger and hatred melted away.
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
“In” everything give thanks. He didn’t say “for.” God deserves our thanks always. Even if we can’t see His reasons at the moment, He loves us and can be trusted to provide the best for us.
Let’s look at Daniel who lived long before Christ was born, but his faith and love for God is legendary. From a very young age, he loved God and didn’t let anybody or any circumstance diminish his faith. He could have been very bitter towards God, but instead, his faith was a beacon to the pagans around him. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon and besieged Jerusalem. When Jerusalem eventually fell, Nebuchadnezzar ordered his eunuchs to take some children hostage.
“Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4).
The idea was to brainwash these children to accept the pagan culture. Daniel was one of these “children.” When they arrived in the palace, the king ordered that these youngsters would be given the best food and wine, but Daniel saw this as something that was against his faith in God, and would only eat vegetables and drink water.
Daniel continued to honor God for many years, not only in his diet, but also in prayer and thanksgiving. He never bowed before the pagan idols found in Babylon. Daniel loved God and would do nothing that would dishonor Him. Daniel showed his faith and gratitude daily. When his faith was tested, Daniel chose to honor God instead of following pagan mandates. This habit made the local magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers very angry, and they wanted to kill Daniel and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).
One night, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that upset him. He couldn’t remember the dream but wanted his “wise” men to interpret it anyway. They couldn’t, so he wanted them all killed. Daniel took it to God, who gave him the answers.
“I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter” (Daniel 2:23).
Daniel was never shy about giving thanks to God, even among the pagans in Babylon. How much more should we be faithful and thankful to God for all He has done for us?
After some time passed, Nebuchadnezzar was no longer king, but Darius took power, and Daniel’s faith and thankfulness continued to be honored by God but despised by people around him. Daniel had always served God first, and his faith was noticed.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Darius did notice Daniel and saw evidence of God’s hand in Daniel’s life. Darius promoted Daniel to a high government position, but others who were under him wanted to get rid of him. Politics has never been easy, and bad men always make trouble for good ones. Daniel’s enemies knew the only way to get rid of Daniel was to make a law that Daniel couldn’t obey because he only obeyed God’s law. That sounds like modern times, when a bakery owner can be dragged to court for refusing to make a wedding cake for two men. We can learn much by studying Daniel about how to handle situations when man’s law contradicts God’s law.
The evil men asked the king to make a law that anybody who prays or makes supplication to any God or man other than Darius for 30 days would be thrown into the den of lions. Darius went along with this law, forgetting that Daniel was faithful to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and couldn’t obey this law.
Did Daniel cower in fear? Did he wring his hands and try to find a way to compromise? We are to obey the laws of the land except when man’s law is opposed to God’s law.
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10).
Daniel didn’t change his routine. He continued to pray and give thanks to God Almighty, knowing full well that his faithfulness to God would mean death. Sure enough, the evil men found Daniel praying and making supplication to God, and they went and tattled to the king. Darius was not at all pleased with himself for allowing this law to be enacted and tried to find a way around it. Darius had seen Daniel’s faith and how it affected his life and integrity.
“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee” (Daniel 6:16).
It seems that Daniel’s faith had rubbed off on Darius! The den was covered with a stone, and the king’s seal was upon it. Darius didn’t sleep well that night and went to the den early.
“And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20).
Daniel’s faith was such that even the king knew that he served the living God. When someone looks at you, what do they see? Do they see that you are a servant of the Living God, or do they see you living with one foot in the world?
God chose to spare Daniel, and His angel shut the lions’ mouths. “…So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God” (Daniel 6:23b).
What happened to those who had forced the law, hoping Daniel would die? Darius had them cast into the den of lions along with their wives and children, and the lions had a feast. This puts me in mind of the Rapture. God always protects those who love and honor Him. Christians will be taken up to Heaven prior to the Tribulation, just like Daniel was removed before the lion’s mouths were opened, and they had those who rejected the Living God destroyed.
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
Draw near to God today. Let your faith grow and be thankful. Bad times will happen, and it’s best to prepare yourself now. Only God can save you from the wrath to come.
We can learn many lessons from studying the Old Testament. God saved Daniel from other attacks by his enemies, as well as many other people in the Old Testament. God saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago from the fiery furnace, Enoch from the Flood, Lot from the fire and brimstone poured down on Sodom and Gomorrah, and many more faithful and thankful people were protected by God. Christians have God’s assurance that we will not go through the final seven years of judgment that will come upon the earth. Are we thankful for this promise?
Anybody who believes we will see God’s wrath just hasn’t studied God’s word. We will see bad times and persecution, but we will be taken Home before God’s final judgment begins. Many people are looking for the man who will take power over the world, the Anti-Christ, but he can’t be revealed until after Christians are taken Home. It’s better to look to and serve the one who will save us from God’s wrath.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
The temple must be rebuilt first, so the man of sin is still waiting for all things to be ready, including Christians being Raptured. The Christians in Thessalonica were afraid the Tribulation had begun, but Paul assured them they hadn’t missed the Rapture because certain things had to happen first. We cannot know the date of the Rapture, but we can read the signs that it’s getting close. Draw near to Jesus and share the Gospel with others. Live your life so others will see your faith and know that you are a Christian.
God gave Isaiah a prophecy regarding the end times. “For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come” (Isaiah 63:4).
God will protect His people from His vengeance. Be sure you have repented and placed your faith in Jesus. If you love Him, be faithful and thankful.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).