Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC

Daniel 4:34-37
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
    and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
    and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
    or say to him, “What have you done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

“Unfortunately they are too far gone” is a phrase I have heard spoken several times in my life pertaining to different instances. Whether it was growing up and it being used to reference a troubled kid at school, to a patient in the hospital who is nearing their final breath, I have heard the phrase used a few different times. However, when it comes to one’s spiritual life, the good news is that on this side of eternity, NO ONE is too far gone to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and be saved. The news of the Gospel is that anyone who chooses to turn from their sins and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior can have a relationship with God! On this side of eternity no one is too far gone and we see a picture of this reality in Daniel 4.

King Nebuchadnezzer was a pagan king, full of himself and definitely far from God. Just the chapter before we see him build a MASSIVE statue of Himself for everyone to bow down and worship (90 ft tall and 9 ft wide to be exact). He threatened the lives of those who chose not to bow and in the midst of that saw that there was One who was much greater than He- The God of Israel. The Lord God protected the three Hebrew boys from getting burned up in the fiery furnace after they chose not to bow and King Nebuchadnezzer was amazed! He gave the Lord a shoutout but still found himself at the root of his worship. In the midst of him worshipping himself the man of God, Daniel steps in to interpret the dreams that he had and in the midst of all that the Lord humbled him and we find him at the end of his life turning to the Lord and following Him.

That is quite the testimony isn’t it? King Nebuchadnezzer definitely fit the mold of one who was “too far gone” yet we see him at the end of his life turn and trust in the Lord. This reality shows God’s love and patience for the world. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” The Lord desires for individuals to come to Him. No matter how far away one may seem no one on this side of eternity is too far gone to receive Him. 

What then is our response in light of this reality? 

1)Continue to Be a Faithful Witness Toward the Lost– The Three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3 who chose to stand for the Lord when the whole rest of the crowd bowed down to King Nebuchnezzer’s statue were faithful witnesses of the Lord. God used that moment to show the King who was truly King. May we too choose to continue to be faithful witnesses to our lost friends, sharing the hope of Jesus with them and walking in a manner that preaches that we belong to Him as well. 

2) Continue to Be Faithful in Prayer: As believers we are called to plant seeds of the Gospel into the lives of those who don’t know Jesus. However, it is the Lord that truly brings growth. Continue to be faithful in asking the Lord to save your lost friends and family members. The Lord moves when we pray so let us be encouraged to take prayer seriously,and pray that the Lord would move in their hearts and lives like he did King Nebuchnezzer. 

Aren’t you thankful for the Love of God today? Listen, at our worst He received us as His children when we turned from our sins and trusted in Him. May we choose to believe He can do the same thing for our friends and family who don’t know Him. May we choose to believe that God can do a mighty work in their lives just as He did in King Nebuchnezzer’s life as he chose to give honor and glory to the Lord as his God. No one on this side of eternity is too far gone to receive the Lord. Let’s be children of God who choose to live like it. 

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your everlasting love. I am so thankful that You received me at my worst to be adopted as a child of yours. I thank you for that truth that on this side of eternity no one is too far gone to receive You as Savior and Lord. Help me  to live in light of that reality moving forward. Help me to have the courage to be a faithful witness to my friends and family, and help me to choose to be a prayer warrior as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Psalm 4:8- In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.