In The Lion's Den

Picture yourself walking down the street in the middle of a towering city. The walls and streets are adorned with gold, the lights are shimmering, beckoning you to come and see. The buildings are all made of expensive brick and an abundant, flowing river runs right through the center of town giving life to everything. Anything you could ever want is right there at your fingertips. All you have to do, is reach out and take it for yourself. You can have whatever you want too, there's no limit here. If what you see isn't the biggest or the best, you can just ask for more and you'll get it. In the Book of Daniel, such a place existed. "Young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace." They were taught a new language and given a new name. They were given a new creed to live by. That creed was, " I AM, and there is none besides me." In a city filled with overindulgence, excess, and pride, they were expected to follow suit. The highest value was placed on youth, beauty, and intelligence and those who did not fit, were cast out. Those who did fit, became lost in the self-centered culture. The cup of this city was inviting and intoxicating, foaming and overflowing. She wasn't just offering everyone a sip, she offered them the world. My question to you is, are we so desensitized by our modern day Babylon that we can't even see how it is indoctrinating us? How can a people effectively live in this kind of world and not be overtaken by it? In the Book of Daniel, the horrific snare of captivity is seen over and over again, but Daniel resists her charm. In today's society with all the endless forms of entertainment, the lusts of the eyes and of the flesh, and impressionable youth searching for significance, can we do the same without falling prey to it's allure? Can we live a life of sincere integrity in a world with decaying morals and still win souls for our King?