Daniel 5:27
“TEKEL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.”
Unfortunately we would all receive this news. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” I didn’t know this until I was years into Christianity. I did know that I was afraid to die. This was my mindset at 17 years of age. The Lord allowed this. When His invitations came I jumped at them. It was at this age that I received Christ. I had no clue what I was in store for. I knew no christians and the church I went to wasn’t all that clear. He led me through a labyrinth to a great church and christian friends. It took years. It was all good.
Proverbs 21:2 says, “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.” We wouldn’t do them if we didn’t think so. While there is some good to this, it’s mainly bad. Good in that we are at peace with ourselves, but bad in that we aren’t right with God and aren’t aware of it. We have all sorts of defenses which protect us. The news of not being right with God is overwhelming. We couldn’t live with that. Some of these defenses are good. God made us that way. I’m not sure about this one.
We all hear from God at some point in our lives. Probably several times. If we heed him, then we receive mercy. Not forgiveness, but mercy. If we ignore Him, we sink back in that state of thinking we are right, but aren’t. All of God’s messages are to lead us to Him through the cross. We all don’t receive Christ while children. Many of us are’t aware of it.
John 12:32 says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.” It’s like the current leads in a particular direction. So all are led to Him. Not all receive Him. It might not be a no, but a not yet. That’s dangerous and is nearly as bad as a no. Delay is another defense. It’s bad when it comes to God. We are all guilty of putting Him off from time to time. The king in today’s story put off God. “Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this”, (Daniel 5:22).
He wants the best for us. It’s rarely as we would imagine. We run into circumstances that are designed by Him for our good. We can see this at the back side. If we submit to Him there is goodness.
Instant obedience is best. Jump in and do it. I think of the words from one of Pink Floyd’s song, “comfortably numb”. While numbness is good at the dentist, it’s bad when we are self deceived. The king was.
God is patient with us. Isaiah 65:2 says, “All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations.” Like the prodigal son’s father, He waits for us. So patient.
Thank You, Lord, that You draw us. Thank You for Your blessings. Help us to heed Your words.