God desires for His children to live lives proclaiming His goodness to the lost. God's Spirit has no greater asset in reaching a lost world than a Christian whose life reflects the gospel he preaches! There is no greater detriment to the gospel than a Christian living a life Christ is unable to bless. Our life message is being read by the unsaved around us; what type of message is our life preaching?
Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.
Nebuchadnezzar was a worshiper of false gods. At one point in his life, he even believed he was a god. This cruel heathen king with incomprehensible power was convinced by a few of his slaves that the God of heaven was real! He was convinced of God's reality because these men lived a life that manifested God's presence, power, and protection. Here are a few ways the book of Daniel teaches us that our life can proclaim God:
1. God can be manifested to the lost through our successes.
When God’s children are obedient and live God’s principles, we experience His blessings. The lost around us will not experience these blessings and will begin to wonder why we are experiencing these successes. At this point, we can exclaim our brilliance or point the credit to the One Who is worthy of it!
Daniel was able to miraculously remind the king of a dream that was forgotten and tell him the interpretation! The king was in awe! Daniel was sure to tell the king that he was only able to do this because of the relationship he had with the God of heaven!
Daniel 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings…
2. God can be manifested to the lost through our suffering.
No one, saved or unsaved, is exempt from suffering. The difference lies in the access the Christian has to the Lord's strength in the hard times. Trials give the child of God an opportunity to strengthen their testimony. When a Christian suffers gracefully and remains faithful it provides the opportunity to reach others going through hard times.
Daniel was facing a death sentence for worshiping God the way he was commanded to. His unwillingness to succumb to society’s demands for worship left him to be devoured by lions. When Daniel’s faith was resistant in this trial another king (Darius) was convinced, there was a God in heaven!
Daniel 6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God...”
3. God can be manifested to the lost through our stand.
The unsaved will test our resolve and commitment to the Lord. When we are put in a position with the potential to compromise, the lost are watching. A Christian who is willing to stand strengthens the gospel he preaches. However, a Christian who folds and compromises under pressure soils his message!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship false gods! They were willing to die before they stooped. They looked the king in his eyes and let him know they didn’t fear death and would not bow to another god! After attempting unsuccessfully to kill these men for their faith in God, Nebuchadnezzar was convinced there was a God in heaven!
Daniel 4:37 “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven…”
