READING WHAT'S ON THE WALL

I Was Just Thinking About - - -

In the contemporary world, some people believe their graffiti on a wall is what the world has been waiting for and expecting! In too many instances, in is best to avoid looking at or reading that which some vulgar person has drawn or written. The idea of this Blog pertains to something far more serious tan graffiti on a wall. Last week, the Federal Government allowed for a new interpretation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act with a particular emphasis upon sex and gender preferences. With his signature on yet another Presidential Decree based upon that new interpretation, the writing on the wall outside of restrooms in public places and schools must now read – Transgender Restroom. The distinction of – men or women, boy or girl – is now illegal inasmuch as the POTUS Decree supersedes that distinction. To enforce this decree, any state or institution refusing to comply will lose Title IX funding from the Federal Government. Obviously, it is another act of defiance of this nation’s foundational principles, core values and moral standards. What will The Church do? How will Evangelicals respond? What Congressional action will be immediately taken to reverse this decree? Whose voice will be raised in opposition?

A few hundred years ago there was a moment to decide about taking a stand for truth and righteousness. Elijah had appeared before King Ahab and issued a challenge regarding the prophets of Baal and the growing opposition of the nation toward God and His standards. In I Kings 18:22, Elijah issues a challenge to the people. He text indicates, “Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word.” The last phrase was part of the problem in Elijah’s day and is a major problem in our day as well. In the NLT, this same text reads, “Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him! But the people were completely silent.” Sadly, the people were completely silent. They were afraid to take a stand for God and righteousness. They measured any such involvement against their own vested interests. The result was they went along just to get along.

In another time, God’s people were having to endure the Babylonian Captivity. The Emperor had called for a time of celebration and a festive activity. While this party was taking place, a startling incident happened. It is recorded in Daniel 5:2-4 records the level of their decadence, “Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.” During their drunken display of decadence, the tone of the party abruptly changes (Verses 5-6), “The fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lamp-stand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. What did that message say? What did it mean? 

Daniel stands alone and speaks (Verses 22-23), “Belshazzar, you have not humbled your heart…but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.” Daniel then proceeds to interpret the Writing On The Wall (Verses 26-28), MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” In other words, the party and the kings reign is now over. Something bad is about to happen as the Medes and Persians attack and take over the nation. God’s deciding factor and measurement of Belshazzar in Daniel’s day and POTUS in our day is Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Prayerfully – consider these things with me!