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| Volume 25 Number 11 November 2023 |
Page 14 |
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| Volume 25 Number 11 November 2023 |
Page 14 |
Editor's NoteMarilyn LaStrape
It was recently brought to my attention the power of possessing settled conviction. The Bible is literally filled with hundreds and thousands of statements of settled conviction from those who were devoted to Almighty God and those who were diametrically opposed to Him.
Daniel 3 gives us the account of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the three Jews – Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. The king made an image of gold, “whose height was sixty cubits [about 90 feet] and its width six cubits [about 9 feet]” (Daniel 3:1 NKJV). The king ordered every official with any standing in the province of Babylon to fall down and worship the image when the symphony of all kinds of music played. A herald cried aloud that whoever did not fall down and worship would be cast immediately into the midst of a burning, fiery furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were reported to the king when they refused to bow down. The king in rage and fury commanded that they be brought before him. He stated the ultimatum once again, and the three Jewish men once again refused. The king even asked them who was the god who would deliver them from his hands. Their response is one of true settled conviction. Daniel 3:16-18 declares, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.’”
In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked His disciples, “…Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” There were four different responses. In verse 15, Jesus said to them, “…But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:16 records Peter’s declaration of settled conviction. “…You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus followed this declaration by saying how Peter gained this divine knowledge. “…Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (v. 17).
John 20:24-29 records the account of the apostle Thomas having his first encounter with Jesus the Christ after His glorious resurrection. Thomas was not with the other apostles when Jesus came. They told him they had seen the Lord. In verse 25, Thomas said, “…Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” After eight days, the apostles were together again, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, saying, “…Peace to you!” (v. 16). Verses 27 and 28 are indeed dramatic! “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” Indeed, this was a declaration of settled conviction.
Acts 21 gives the details of the opposition Paul faced on his journey to Jerusalem. Verses 10-14 record the specific danger Paul would encounter if he persisted in going to that city. A certain prophet came and told Paul and his companions what was ahead. He took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet and said, “…Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (v. 11).
When Paul’s companions heard this, they pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Note Paul’s declaration of settled conviction. Acts 21:13 records for time and eternity, “Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’” Verse 14 records, “So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, ‘The will of the Lord be done.’” This is the expected submission of all dedicated followers of the Lord Jesus.
Shortly before Jesus was to face the reason for Him being sent to this sin-cursed, fallen, dark world – which was the redemption of mankind – He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew’s account in Chapter 26 is most riveting! He took Peter, James and John with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed (v. 37). “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me’” (v. 38). Verse 39 reveals what only God and His Son could feel and know. “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” Verses 40 and 41 reveal just how alone Jesus felt. He came to His disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Verse 42 records our Savior’s ultimate declaration of settled conviction. “Again, a second time, He went away and prayed saying, ‘O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.’” Verse 43 reveals Jesus “…came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.” Verse 44 tells us, “So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”
God put forth King Solomon to show us that wealth, honor, long life, power, possessions, pleasure, gratification of all human appetites and anything else this world has to offer only results in vanity and vexation of the spirit. Life is empty apart from God. Solomon concluded Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 with this most sobering, settled conviction. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”
King Nebuchadnezzar stands as one diametrically opposed to God. For his high-handed arrogance, he incurred God’s wrath in a way perhaps no other human ever had experienced for not believing that God was God! When God’s day of reckoning was poured out on this pagan, he was brought to his knees. Daniel Chapters 3-4 contain the dramatic account. When God returned Nebuchadnezzar to his senses, he stated forthrightly in Daniel 4:35, “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” Verse 37 concludes with him saying, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”
Unwavering settled conviction for God’s revealed Word – do we have it?
