THE HANDLING OF A CRISIS The Spirit holds this truth before us: God is "is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1:24). This is a grand reality that is often withheld from the people of God by their teachers and leaders. Apart from the faithful ministry of my father, who has departed to be with the Lord, I recall precious few who ever spoke of this matter in the religious circles I occupied. It simply was not something people talked about. Yet, all of us need to know this. That, of course, is why it is recorded in Scripture.
"And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Daniel 2:13-18)
Devotion 4 of 28
This truth must not be neutralized by continually hammering on human weakness and failures. It is quite true that we are beset with natural weaknesses within and without. It is equally true that all manner of failure can be found in the record of our doings. However, these are not an appropriate emphasis for preaching and teaching. We must surely be aware of these things, but there are other matters of which we must also be apprised.
The bludgeon of Law is also inappropriate as an emphasis directed to the saints of the Lord. To be sure, the commandments of God are not to be ignored, for to do so puts one at enmity with the Lord. However, a steady diet of what we ought to do will soon wear down the soul. Those who are reconciled to God must be given the incentives of God's great promises. It is, after all, by means of the promises that we come to participate in the Divine nature. As it is written, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: THAT BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust: (2 Pet 1:3-4).
Notice the marvel of the promise given by Jude. It is one of God's exceeding great and precious promises. "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without a fault and with great joy" (NIV). Notice that is ascribed to the ability of God.
1 - He is able to "keep you from falling." If you will trust the Lord, He can keep you from stumbling and falling. He can enable you to avoid the snares of the wicked one, and cause you to see dangers that are in your path.
2 - He is able to "present you faultless" before the presence of His glory. Everyone will stand before the presence of His glory, whether they are prepared to do so or not. That is an appointment that every person will keep. How wonderful to ponder standing there "without fault!" – that is, "without fault" in HIS sight.
3 - He is able to make you stand before His presence "with great joy." Who can place a value on being able to stand in the presence of the Lord – in all the effulgence of His glory – and being glad you are there – rejoicing in the presence of the Lord. God is able to make that happen.
Even during the spiritual twilight of the Law, when the shroud of mystery covered God's eternal purpose, Daniel was acquainted with Divine abilities through the writings of David. "For Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not Thou DELIVER MY FEET FROM FALLING, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (Psa 56:13). And again, "For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and MY FEET FROM FALLING" (Psa 116:8). There, in Babylon, as a captive, hope was found in the heart of the prophet. He had learned to trust the Lord and to rely upon Him during a time when God had only introduced Himself to the covenanted people. Too, he was living in difficult times, as well as a challenging place – a time of severe chastening.
However, those who live in a time of chastening can still be kept from falling. Like those who are weak in the faith, "God is able to make" those trusting in Him "to stand" (Rom 14:4). In our text, we will see HOW the Lord can do this. Daniel is in a foreign land, under a heathen ruler, and his life is being threatened. Yet, in all of this, God will make him stand, giving him strong faith, wisdom, and kindred believers. He will keep him from falling!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to see Your ability to keep me from falling, even though my own weaknesses are shouting at me.
-- Tomorrow: