Larry's Lines

Text: Daniel 5:1-31

The king gave a party and invited all of his friends. When we want to do something we like to have those of like interests around and with us, those who will approve of our conduct or behavior. At this party the forces of evil had a field day. There was much corruption and riotous living.

It was at the height of this party that Belshazzar called for the vessels of God that Nebuchad­nezzar had taken from Jerusalem. While they were drinking from these and praising pagan gods some­thing startling began to take place. Prior to this the king and his friends were living it up. As the world says, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Then all of a sudden the kings face grew pale and terror came into his heart. We might say he was “as white as a sheet as if he had seen a ghost.” But we know it was more than that. The Most High God was making His presence known. He did something that would make them stand up and take notice.

What did Belshazzar do? He did the same thing that Nebuchadnezzar did, he called on his wise men to tell him what was happening. These counselors could not come up with the answer. It is foolishness to think that the world can have the right answers. Then a familiar tune: Daniel is called in. he read the writing; it was a message of judgement. (Dan. 5:1-24) What did the inscription mean?

• Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
• Tekel: You have been weighed in the scales and found wanting.
• Peres: Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.

It happened just like God said it would. That very night Babylon fell. There are a number of lessons to be learned from reading this account.

Sin is not static: What do I mean by this statement? The one who sins never stays on the plateau. The path of sin always leads downhill. (James 1:13-15)

In many cases we do not learn from experience who God is and that He is the Sovereign God in control of the universe. Belshazzar fell into this category. He knew how God had dealt with Nebuchadnezzar; he went farther and blasphemed God by desecrating the vessels. This pattern of sin is clear from Rom. 1:21-24; 26, 28.

Sin puts us to sleep in regards to sin. We think that we are living all right lives and that we are in control of our destinies. We don’t even think we are sinning.

God is not static. There are times in history when sin abounds and God does not seem to intervene. We must not think that just because God has postponed judgment that he will forget; he will pour out His wrath against sin. We say there are only 2 sure things in life, death and taxes.” Well, you can avoid paying some taxes, but death is certain (Heb. 9:27). This verse gives another certainty for man­kind: judgement.

The final destinies of mankind: We see a foretaste of the final days here. All sin will be judged. Each of us has to make a decision on whether to follow Christ or not. Those who have fol­lowed Him and are alive when He returns will be caught up to meet Him in the air as recorded in I Thes. 4:16-18.

But what about the unbeliever? Read Rev. 20:11-14. It will be a time when “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.” But for the unbeliever it will be too late. People think they have plenty of time to be saved. Where will you spend eternity? The choice is yours. God tells us of the destiny of the wicked so that we might turn from sin to salvation. God de­sires that all will be saved, but we know that will not happen. (II Pet. 3:9)

If it were not for the long suffering of God we might not have had the opportunity to become Christians. Judgment is coming! To those outside of Christ, the three words on the wall have mean­ing today.

Mene: God is going to number your deeds to show that you have failed to achieve His stand­ards. At the Great white Throne, books are opened. All the evil you have done will be poured out on one side of God’s scales.

Tekel: All the lies, hypocrisies, all the self-seeking, all the evil will be weighed as you stand there the scales weigh down to condemnation.

Peres: The Greek word for judgment means divided. There is a path that leads to eternal life for those who accepted Christ and have obeyed the Gospel. But at this judgment, it is too late for that.

What will those who are lost say to God on that day? Perhaps you will tell God that you lived a good life. You must choose to serve Jesus.

Christians must focus on sharing the Gospel message with the lost. We must help unbelievers find their way out of the kingdom of darkness into the marvelous light of the Gospel.

While we are willing for Him to return, we have some responsibilities to fulfil.

• First, We Must Keep Alert To The Voice Of The Shepherd. We discover His leading as we study the Bible, meditate, pray and obey what he reveals to us. We must follow Him one step at a time, one day at a time.
• Second, We Must Stay Close To The Shepherd no matter whether He leads us to the green pastures or to the dark valley. He is with us in both places. We must always have our eyes on the Savior (Heb. 12:1-2)
• Third, If We Do stray, We Must Call For The Shepherd’s Help He will forgive if we will ask Him.
• Finally, We Must Be Useful To The Shepherd. Each member has a gift. We must use it. All can do something for God. We must find our talent and use it for the Lord.

Every one of us, whether a Christian or not are examples to someone. This could be a good or a bad example. This evident in the Word of God. We are given accounts of the good and the bad example. The Word of God promotes godly examples for us to emulate.

Throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, we are presented with many character studies. They come from all walks of life just as the writers of the Word. They come from large and small cities; they come from familiar and obscure places. I want to enter our thoughts today on a city in the New Testament that was not as prominent as some. It is mentioned in just 2 books; that being Paul’s letter to Colossians and his epistle to Philemon. I want to write about two men: Epaphras and Archippus.

They are mentioned in Colossians and in Philemon. More is said about about Epaphras. Colossae was located in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. It appears that Paul did not visit this city but that some from there came in contact with his teachings and took them back to their home city. One of the 7 Churches of Revelation, Laodicia, is mentioned in Colossians, along with Hieropolis as being nearby.

Paul is very faithful in commending his co-workers. In writing to the Colossian Church in Col. 1:7-8 and Col. 4:12-14 he mentions Epaphras. It appears that he was one of the men who brought the Gospel to Colossae. Both he and Philemon may have came in contact with Paul when he preached “nearby.”

Even a casual reading of the text will give the reader an insight into the character of Epaphras. Paul uses terminology that we all would like to be described by. Paul calls him a dear fellow servant and a faithful minister in Col. 1:7-8. He is mentioned as one who loved his fellow believers. He is called a servant.

Paul uses a term in Col. 4:12 that should describe all Christians, that of a bond servant. This describes one who serves his master willingly and faithfully. We see Epaphras described as a man of prayer. He is genuinely concerned with the spiritual well being of his fellow believers and is described as laboring fervently for them. His motivation is that they would be made complete in the Lord and stand for Him. He puts into practice the admonition of Paul in 2 Tim. 3:16-18 where faithfully preaching and teaching the Word of God will lead believers to be equipped for service to the Lord Jesus. Col. 4:13 shows that he didn’t just center his efforts in his hometown but was willing to share the Word with those in Laodicea and in Hieropolis. May we ever be thankful for this faithful brother.

The other one mentioned in Colossians and in Philemon was a man named Archippus. He is mentioned in Col. 4:17 as well as in Philemon 2. It appears he was the son of Philemon and was faithful in preaching and teaching in the church that met in Philemon’s home. Paul reminds him that he received his ministry from the Lord Jesus. He is called a fellow soldier in Philemon 2. All Christians are in the Lord’s Army. We must take up the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:10-20) if we are going to be equipped for battle. Let’s look back the example of Archippus as we strive to serve together under the authority of the Lord Jesus and help reach the lost and lead them out of the kingdom of darkness in the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:14-16).

-Larry Miles, Nov. 16, 2011