Live forever! Why is it that we all want to “live forever”? Do we as humans just not want to face death or is it a fear of pain that we may have to go through as we die? There is an unknown in dying and we know that we will have to leave family and friends behind. It is hard for everyone—those who face death and those who are left behind. As children of God we have been promised that we will live forever with God in Heaven—and actually our spiritual eternal life begins when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. So here these wise men of Babylon are greeting the King with “live forever” to sweet-talk him. He won’t “live forever” and they know it. They are certainly liars and flatters. They said that they had convened all the leading officials and that they agreed to the decree, but it is obvious that Daniel, the head vice-regent, had not been consulted. King Darius is easily swayed and signs the decree. He was so flattered—what was he thinking?
Was this type of punishment, being thrown into the lions’ den a common form of punishment? It is not evident by the scripture or internet searches, but the lions’ den with a hole at the top of the cave for dropping people into the presence of the beasts was already in existence before the decree was issued. Was Daniel the only one who prayed to the true God? What became of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? We don’t hear anything more about them after Chapter three in Daniel. Now it is Daniel’s turn to be treated much like his three friends. He had to trust in the Lord as he faced death with those beasts.
Where
do you stand with the Lord? Are you ready to face death, like Daniel and his
friends? Have you considered where you’ll be going when you die? Everyone will
go to heaven—some for judgment and some to stay in God’s home forever. I know
that I’m headed for that heavenly home some day—a mansion that will come down
from heaven to the new earth. In Revelation 21:1-2 it says:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new
earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no
longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:1-2 NASB.
Jesus is
that “husband” or bridegroom—and all the Christians are His bride to live in
His home on the new earth. I feel so privileged to be part of that group. How
about you?
"For
the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king.
Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions' den."
Issue
this decree, O king, and make it unconditional, as if written in stone like all
the laws of the Medes and the Persians." King Darius signed the decree. Daniel 6:4–9 MSG
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, live forever! I praise You for You are God. I look forward to
“living forever” with You in Your heavenly home where we won’t have to fear any
lions’ den.
Meditate.
Consider eternal life.
Verses of Salvation ~ "Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who
cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people's scorn, nor fear
their insults. For the moth will devour them as it devours clothing. The worm
will eat at them as it eats wool. But my righteousness will last forever. My
salvation will continue from generation to generation." Isaiah 51:7-8 NLT
© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
Recycled from July 20, 2012 Banquet With The King blog.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene
H. Peterson.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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