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'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
In the book of Daniel of the Bible there an intriging record of what occurred to a great king. It is the only record in the Bible of something like this.
There was a great king named Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans. He was a haughty king, as many kings of the Bible were. Daniel, the prophet of that time was called before the king because of a dream he had that frightened him exceedingly.
The king knew Daniel was a prophet, believed that he could interpret is dream. His dream showed words written on the wall of the king's palace. This is one of the most intriguing event in the Old Testament of the Bible. Notice below:
"Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." - Daniel 5:24-30
The three words pictured the king's demize.
From this the expression, "handwriting on the wall" evolved, and is quoted often when referring to an eventuality that seems certain to occur. Belshassar lost his life and his kingdom., and was warned before it happened. God often works His will in mysterious ways.
He saw beforehand the sign of his time. His time had come. He had no more time. He could not undo what he had done.
Today sometimes we hear the expression "signs of our time" meaning that, judging by what is occurring in our life and our world, they are showing and warning us of future events.
Can we see in our world some signs of our time? The question is, how long will the signs warn us?
Our world is being warned by God's "handwriting" on many "walls" in various ways. National leaders, church leaders, commentaries via TV, public comments, and events in general are increasingly warning, each segment of society in it's own way, that there must be change. There are many ways to make beneficial change - change from wrong to right. But the most urgent change is in the moral and spiritual realm. Taken as a whole, we have become a God-ignoring society. With some hopeful exceptions.
But the essence of it all can be expressed by one truth. In general, we have forsaken God. But there is hope.
There is still time...If we will turn back to our God as a nation. But will we turn? It depends on you and me...
Years ago a prayer was made by a Chaplain of the Senate. He ended his prayer with a question, and then a statement:
Please "turn us Lord...for we are hard to turn!"
By turn he meant return to God in repentance.
Will we turn?...will you return?... will I return?
Please Father...lead us to repentance. Have mercy on America!
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