Nobody Will See Your Sine If You Are No Different Than The World Series

ILLUSTRATION

In Daniel chapter 12, there is a verse that every Christian should memorize. And it is: Daniel 12:3 (NKJV)

3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

In the first part of the verse, we are told that those who are wise in the ways of God shine. And in the second part of the verse, we are told that those who lead others to Christ will be like the stars. And what do stars do? They shine. So, it is a fair question to ask you, if you say that you are a Christian, – “How is Your Shine?” And that happens to be the title of this new series.

And that is what the Book of Daniel is all about- a remnant of God’s people shining in the dark place of Babylon. It is the same thing that Jesus Christ spoke about in Matthew 5 when He told us that “we are the Light of the world.” You and I should be shining; we should be lights in this place we call America because it has gotten dark. As a young boy growing up in America, I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams that this country would have gotten so dark. But we are a divided people and instead of working together we are working against each other. There is bloodshed in the schools and on the streets and nowadays no one is safe. You hear of young children lying in bed and gunshots coming through the wall making them a victim of gun violence. And there is a general sense of meanness in people today, I would not have foreseen.

So, let me ask you again, “How is Your Shine?” And I am going to tell you today that nobody will see your shine if you are not any different from this world.

BIBLE VERSE

Daniel 1:1-15 (NKJV)

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,

4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”

11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.

13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”

14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.

1 Nobody will see your shine if you don't take sin seriously because Scriptures prove God takes sin seriously.