Point to the Hero

Only fifty years ago, the heroes of every young boy were astronauts and policemen. Every little girl wanted to be a mother or a nurse. How things have changed! The aspirations of our youth have gone from serving others to trampling others in the pursuit of self-service. And I know I'm probably sounding like and old-head --I'm sure those a generation or so ahead of me were saying the same types of things about us as we were coming up --but gone are the days when heroes were the norm. Gone are the days when a fireman descended from a tree, kitty cradled tenderly in his arms, and declared, "Just doing my job, Ma'am." Gone are the days when women lifted one another up, sat down in one another's kitchen for coffee, and took some sort of joy in their husband's comfort. Today, folks refuse responsibility for themselves; it's no wonder they refuse to take responsibility for others. Remove those things, those individuals who make life inconvenient for you. It's really very simple. But Scripture says otherwise. And, though it is difficult to traverse this little snippet of eternity --even more so when we're tasked with being kind to others and bearing our brother's burdens --it is not impossible. 

But there is a God in heaven... ~ Daniel 2:28 

In the historical record of Daniel of Judah, he has been carried off to Babylon --not his home in any sense of the word. The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, has selected the best and brightest of his captives to be trained in the ways of his country for his service. He's also grown, it seems, a bit disillusioned with some of the nationals he's had in his employment, and he's had a troubling dream. Tell me my dream and its interpretation! Now, the king wasn't looking to have his memory jogged; he was testing his spiritual advisors. If they could tell him the facts of his dream --something no one is able to do --surely, they could be trusted with an interpretation. Short version: Daniel hears of the order, and, after he and his friends pray, receives from God the details of the dream and what it means. Here's where I'd like to direct your focus, Daniel's response to the king when he appears before him (v. 27, 28): 

The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.

Daniel confirms the argument of the other sages: no one can tell you the thoughts of your subconscious mind --not even I. He knows God has given him the information the king seeks. He's got it! But he is clear in shifting any attention from himself. He makes himself no better than any of the other spiritualists (with whom the king was thoroughly irritated). 

Secondly, Daniel plainly, incontrovertibly points to God. Daniel uses a two-step process in dealing with this pagan king. First, he deflects from himself and any good within himself (humility), and second, he points unequivocally to God (glory). Daniel did not waffle on the true Hero of this occasion, and he wasn't content with anyone else waffling either.

This is the point at which I begin to think about all of those times we are given the opportunity to be someone's flesh-and-blood "hero." Do we make it clear to them that in us lies no good thing, that apart from Christ we can do nothing? Are we adamant that the Source of our talents, our material resources, our desire to love and to help is Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus alone? Or do we preach Jesus but feel the need to draw the attention of others to our good deeds or our aptitudes? Do we blush and say, Just doing my job, Ma'am -- humble, perhaps, but failing to point to the true Miracle Worker? God was using a pagan king, revealing to him the future for ages! Did you catch that? If Daniel had made it all about himself, his abilities, wouldn't that have been the lead of this story? Daniel of Israel, seer of all seers! Not, Nebuchadnezzar, God wants your worship, too. Or, if Daniel had not pointed to the God who sought to reveal to the king of a heathen nation the promise of a heavenly kingdom, would the focus have moved past its historical value? 

John 3:27 assures us, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. Not the gifts we share or the gifts we receive. All of it transpires under the authority of the Almighty so that none of us can take credit for what we possess or imagine we are entitled in any way. So that in all things, He will increase and we will decrease (John 3:30), and our God will always be the Hero others aspire to know.