Where's Your Mind?

Daniel 5:7-9 The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
 
THIS is a familiar scene in Daniel, isn’t it? The king has a vision. He is greatly disturbed, agitated, impatient, and he is terrified. Belshazzar responds to the vision of the hand writing on the wall as his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar reacted to his dreams. Past lessons can become discarded fables when arrogance says, “I have a better way.” The Bible points to many children of faithful men and women who rejected God’s sovereign authority. Our greatest evangelism opportunities begin in our home for our children and grandchildren.
    Belshazzar calls the “wise” men of Babylon. They are useless as others before them because they have no wisdom of God’s work. The mystery on the wall is too deep for even their lies and tricks. What is God-ordained is far beyond man’s brain. Not even the promise of great reward could open the enchanters’, astrologers’ and diviners’ minds.  
    The world’s history begins with mankind seeking wisdom in many places other than God’s Word. Satan promised Eve that disobeying God’s commands would give her new knowledge. Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” We also have the philosophies of ancient Greece, contemplations of Eastern mysticism and other pretenses to the truth. Many false prophets also declare they have a new word from God. How do you know who to believe?
    Should not the answer be simple? You believe God. You can do so when you focus your learning around his Bible. The knowledge of God in your heart protects you from the culture’s constant deceptions and deadly promises.  
    Belshazzar had learned nothing from Nebuchadnezzar’s experiences. He thought he had a better way. He did not. His mind was set to the lies, and his kingdom would be judged. Keep your mind on God.
 
Philippians 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.