A number of years ago, I remember a Christian
golf professional called Bill telling me about the pros he worked
with and how he was trying to witness to them and how each was
responding. Then he mentioned David, who, he said, would never
become a Christian. He was so taken up with his personal success and
making money that God was irrelevant to him. Can you think or a
team-mates or colleague of yours that you think, “She will never
become a Christian”.
King Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, the most powerful empire in
the world. He was in our terms President of the USA or perhaps even
manager of Manchester United! Life could not have been better. He
was rich, powerful, famous and “enjoying a time of peace and
prosperity” (Daniel 4:4). He was not exactly the type of man you
would expect to be converted!
Then one day Nebuchadnezzar was full of himself. “The king was
walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. He said, "Is not
this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my
mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" 31 The words were
still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is
decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been
taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live
with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle”. Daniel
4:28-30
The text tells us that this period of God’s judgment lasted for
seven years and then he was restored. “At the end of that time, I,
Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was
restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified him
who lives forever and I was restored to my throne and became even
greater than before”. Daniel 4:34 and 36b
 Now,
this is a remarkable story and one that we can hardly expect to see
repeated in our time. But the principle is timeless. God can change
lives. God can call the most unlikely people to faith. It is his
work to convert people. Ours is to be faithful. Keep praying don’t
give up! Never say, “She could never become a Christian!”
By the way, Bill’s friend David Morgan is now a Christian. So are
all his family. His son Greg is one of Christians in Sport’s
Regional University workers. It’s a good job Bill didn’t stop
praying for David.
Also in this series on Daniel
Drawing the line
Not getting carried away
Master yourself
Life's a rollercoaster
The long haul
Things that last
Making a
difference
An audience of one
Does it matter?
Being there for
Christ Writing
on the wall |
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