A belief one supposedly has is either a preference or a conviction. A preference can be a strong belief and with that belief go into full time service, being a teacher, pastor or even a missionary. It can be a strong belief and give all of our wealth to it and be energetic in proselytizing others into it as well as teach our children our belief. With all of this it can still only be a preference, something we prefer to believe, or that we are pressured into believing. We might prefer it over some other religion, but that is all it is. The reason it is a preference is because it can be changed when enough pressure is applied.

We see in Daniel chapter 3 that King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue and commanded all to bow down and worship when they heard the sound of a music instrument. Pressure can come through peer pressure, family, jail or prison and persecution. We see this with Shadrach, Meshed and Abednego and the pressure applied to them by King Nebuchadnezzar. What would I do if faced with a burning furnace? Would I recant, or would I be like the three men and be willing to die for what I believe in?

What we see with these three men is what a conviction really is. There are several issues that come out showing what a conviction is. The first thing that stands out with these three men is when the pressure of the fiery furnace stands before them and they did not change their belief. They told Nebuchadnezzar, after he gave them a chance to change their mind: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Another aspect of conviction that stands out with these three men was that they were willing to stand alone. These three men did not bow. There were other Jews in the city, what were they doing? They were bowing. If we need other people with us before we stand then our belief is a preference instead of a conviction. A belief that is a conviction is non-negotiable. A belief that is a conviction is God given; it is part of one’s life.

Nebuchadnezzar gave these 3 men a second chance. “Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?’’ Daniel 3:13-15

One last aspect that stands out to me in this passage of Scripture regarding these three men is that they did not need to be assured of success before they took their stand. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

A question that comes: How do we know if our belief is a preference or a conviction? The answer is our life style. Conviction will show up in how we live our daily lives. James tells us: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14) We are not saved by works, but where there is real faith (conviction) it will be seen in how we live, spend money, our time, etc.

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us: “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12) The word for sluggish could also be translated as lazy, stupid, slothful. One could continue in Hebrews 11 looking at those we should imitate like Noah, Abraham, Moses and others who were stoned, sawn into, wandered and lived in caves, destitute, but kept a good testimony through faith. The characteristic that stands out in their life style is obedience and sacrifice.

We are coming to the climax of the ages and there is a need for men/women of conviction who will take their stand no matter what.

Genesis 42:36 “Their father Jacob said to them, ‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!’”

When we look at the end of Jacob’s life, we see how he thought that everything was against him, that this was not only for his good, but for the good of the world. The one thing that we see with Jacob is that he was a complainer.

It is said in Jewish wisdom that God gave the Patriarchs a life span of 180 years. However, we see that Abraham fell short of that time by five years, maybe to spare him the agony of seeing his grandson Esau leave the faith. Abraham’s son, Isaac, lived out his 180 years, but Jacob died at a relatively young age of 147. What happened?

The Hebrew word for complaining is ‘mitlonen.’ Verbs convey meaning in God’s language and some verbs are reflexive which is something that we do to ourselves. These verbs most usually start with the prefix MIT, which brings out that you do something to yourself. In others words, complaining is not something you do to other people, but you do to yourself. People who have a habit of complaining are really causing harm to themselves.

The book “Switch on Your Brain” by Caroline Leaf, basically brings out the same thought that we should be thinking or making choices for life, and not for death, or like Paul says: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Dr. Caroline Leaf says in her book that your brain controls your body, but your mind controls your brain. Are our thoughts filled with hatred and complaining, or are they filled with the thoughts Paul is bringing out in Philippians 4:8? Either way our thoughts will affect our body and one place where it will begin to show is on our face.

It is said that a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln brought to him a possible member for the cabinet and after being interviewed by the president he was rejected. When the friend asked why Abraham Lincoln said: “I did not like his face.” The friend replied: “What does the face have to do with it in filling the job, he is not responsible for his face.” Lincoln replied: “Yes, for the first forty years of his life he isn’t, but after forty his face is him.”

When Jacob found out that Joseph was alive and both Simeon and Benjamin were safe, Jacob was glad and decided to go to Egypt. When he arrived, Joseph introduced him to Pharaoh and Pharaoh said: “How old are you.” (Genesis 47:8) What an interesting question. He did not ask about his journey or seeing his son after he thought he was dead, but how old are you. What is the thinking in back of that question? Could it be that Jacob looked far older than his years and his faced showed it?

We all can remember seeing elderly people whose faces radiated life and happiness. Elderly people that saw life has a great adventure and when circumstances came their way that they had no control over, they did not complain, but made the choice to make the most of it

What does your face show?

ENERGY

God says in Leviticus 26:19: “And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass.” And in Deuteronomy 28:23: “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.” The word for brass is ‘nechosheth’ and could be translated as ‘copper.’

We notice in these two rebukes to Israel that these elements of iron and copper are used by Israel, but they are changed in location. Leviticus says that “heaven is iron” and “earth as brass,” but in Deuteronomy it is just the opposite, with heaven being brass and earth being iron.

The context for these statements is about God’s judgment upon His people for turning away from Him and going after their own lusts and desires. I look at this verse in three ways:

First, no rain and the earth dries up; secondly, heaven is like copper so that prayers do not get through to God, but the third thing that I find interesting is that the two elements (iron and copper) are separated from one another.

Rabbi Lappin said if you put a copper nail and an iron nail into a lemon it would produce enough electricity to light a small light bulb, but the copper and the iron need to be in proximity to one another to achieve this. But here we see judgment or curse from God with the two elements separated. In other words, there is no energy.

Why is this so important for us today? It is energy that has given us a resourceful life, an escape out of drudgery. It is energy that gives us the life style that we enjoy today. Think about how cars have given us flexibility to travel, visit family, electricity to light our homes, machines to help build businesses, etc. We could go on as to describe how energy has given us the practical things that we have today. We get energy in wood, coal, oil, uranium, just to name a few resources, and in the days ahead there will be even more discoveries of energy that we do not know at this time.

Because we are made in the image and likeness of God, we too have a creative spirit. I think of the ingenuity of man that has given to us what we have today using all that God has put in the earth, and already we are now beginning to see things like electric cars. Those who have them would not go back to what they had before.

I have been listening to the “NEW GREEN DEAL” being put out by the progressive party, and I have to ask myself if this is a blessing from God, or a curse? To me it would be a curse because in the New Green Deal they are wanting to ‘separate the copper and iron’ (get rid of the oil, coal, etc.) and we know from the wisdom in God’s Word that these resources are for energy.

We know from reading these passages in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that the separation of the copper and iron was because of the declining morality of God’s people.

Just recently we heard 29-year-old socialist and former bartender, Democratic Congresswoman from New York’s 14^th district, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said: “The world is gonna end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change.”

I agree that the world is coming to a climax, and not because of climate change, but because God is bringing things to a head to achieve His great purpose. However, what bothers me is how so many people could clap at her statement that is so very nonsensical. Here is her statement:

“Millennial’s, and people and – and generation Z, and all these folks that come after us, are looking up, and were like, ‘the world is going to end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change,’ and your biggest issue is – YOUR BIGGEST ISSUE IS, how are we going to PAY for it?!”

When an audience begins to clap for a statement like that it reveals how successful climate change has caught on to people lacking the truth.

Now when I see some of the top runners for president in the Democratic party embracing this nonsense – there is a deep concern. Hosea comes to mind: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

We, as God’s people, should be at the forefront when it comes to the environment. We are called to be stewards with what God has given us. Right now, He has given us viable resources: wood, oil, natural gas, coal, iron, uranium, etc. to put to use and make our lives easier and more productive. In the future, there will be new inventions, and more discoveries of things God has given us to use and be good stewards of. But, we also have a warning from God that if we turn our backs on Him, He will use His created things against us.

We, who are Christ followers have a tremendous responsibility. The admonition from the Apostle Paul is of great importance: “Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle — I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying — a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.’ (1 Timothy 2:1-7)

Keep in mind Ephesians 6:10-19 that instructs us to pray with the full armor of God on because of the evil day we live in; and to stay ALERT, praying for God’s people, praying with all kinds of prayers and requests of God. Never stop praying!

Rabbi Lapin, like many Rabbis, declare that Hebrew is the Lord’s language and even suggest that this was the language spoken in the beginning. We do know that the Torah and most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. Rabbi Lapin goes on to say: “If there is no Hebrew word for something, then that thing does not exist.” The reason that I thought this was interesting is because there is no Hebrew word for the word ‘right,’ that we have in the English language. As a matter of fact, there are many words in the English language that does not exist in Hebrew. (Perhaps this is why there is so much bloviating going on in social media.)

According to Jewish Rabbi Lapin, since there is no Hebrew word for ‘right’ in Hebrew then that word or whatever it stands for – does not exist. When we bring this thought into the culture that we have today where all we hear are people clamoring for their rights (whatever they think their rights might be) we need to rethink through all of this.

We often hear people on the left saying to others that they have the right ________ (fill in the blank). We need to ask these people, “Who can you call to fulfill that right?  Who can guarantee that right for you?”

We have the word ‘right’ in the English language, but it does seem at times that we have many words in the English language that seem to defy logic. Perhaps this is why Hebrew is God’s language, as Rabbi Lapin points out. We could go on to state that if that word is not in the Hebrew language (God’s language) then that thing does not exist. It is not real. Rabbi Lapin has said that there are no word(s) for telephone, telegraph, helicopter, etc. in the Hebrew language, so does that mean they don’t exist?

Lapin brings out that there are two types of knowledge in the world: that which changes and that which does not. An example of the knowledge that changes is seen with technology, medicine and science because human beings can accumulate more knowledge of technology, medicine and science as time goes on. BUT the knowledge that does NOT change, according to Rabbi Lapin, would be knowledge of God, humans and earth. These do NOT change, just that we can learn more with our personal knowledge from study about God, humans and earth. 

We could argue and say that our Declaration of Independence declares that everybody has the “right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” or we could look at the Bill of Rights for American citizens. We know that government here in the United States of America does its best to fulfill these rights, but can only do this according to its ability, and that ability is limited.

How many times I have heard people say, “I will.” (Whatever that might be.) For example, they might say: “I will help you.” I am sure that they mean well, but often they fail. Why? Because they do not have the means or power to do what they say they will do. However, this is not true with God. A number of times in the Gospel He says: “I will” and we can be sure that God will do exactly what He says He will do. He says if anyone comes to Him He will accept him; He says if anyone believes in Him, He will raise him up in death, etc. God can do it, because He has the power to do what He says.

Rabbi Lapin asked the question: “Where in the Torah is the word ‘right’ being mentioned among the 613 commandments?” However, another word does exist and that is the word ‘obligation.’ For example, does a person have a right to demand charity? NO! But I have an obligation to be charitable. Does the government have a right to take my money and give it to someone else? NO! But I do have an obligation to the poor, needy, widows and orphans. We can carry this thought on further. Does a woman have a right to her own body when it comes to abortion? No, but she has an obligation to how she treats her body and an obligation to the fetus that is growing in her.

I have heard over and over again among the ‘immigrants’ that they have a right to enter the United States of America. Again, that is bogus! They do NOT have a right to enter, but they do have an obligation to go through the legal channels in order to enter.

The bottom line: We all have obligations, but nobody has a right to anything. It is interesting that I do not hear people or the media talking about ‘obligations.’

In closing, I should mention that there is no Hebrew word for the English word ‘coincidence.’ There is nothing new under the sun. Everything that happens, there is a reason for it and God is able to take it all and, in His Sovereignty, work it out for His good purpose that will prevail.