it pleased darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. [daniel 6:1-2]
what do you want your legacy to be?
the new ruler of babylon, darius, wasted no time in setting up his government. and, one of those who would rule right under him, helping protect darius and all his kingdom would be none other than daniel. by this point, based on the known history of the rulers who had come and gone in daniel’s time in babylon, most biblical scholars believe daniel is in his 80’s.
he is not the young man that was taken captive some 60+ years ago.
he has spent his entire adult life away from his homeland serving foreign rulers in babylon.
and, despite all this, his resume is amazing.
his resume includes the following:.
- he was educated in nebuchadnezzer’s court.
- he served in nebuchadnezzer’s court as an advisor.
- he was ruler over the whole province of babylon (under king nebuchadnezzer) and chief prefect over all the wise men of babylon.
- he was made the third ruler of babylon under king belshazzar.
- and, under darius, he is made one of three who would oversee babylon.
quite a resume.
something to admire of for sure.
something that any man or woman would look back on with pride.
something that kids and grandkids would tell of in stories.
something most of us – could only imagine.
but this was not the legacy daniel had dreamed of or worked for his whole life. God saved daniel’s life many times. listen to his prayer after one such occasion when God revealed nebuchadnezzer’s first dream to him in chapter 2:
then daniel blessed the God of heaven. daniel answered and said: “blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. he changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. to you, o God of my fathers, i give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” [daniel 2:19-23]
daniel’s life was on the line if he could not interpret the king’s dream. God speaks to daniel the mystery of the dream and instead of running right to the king to secure his life and legacy – he instead breaks into worship and writes a song of praise.
this is daniel’s legacy!
not this song, or moment of beautiful and powerful worship. no.
his legacy is that daniel was a worshiper of the One True God – through every season of his life. from teenage years to his 80’s daniel was a public worshiper of the LORD, God. (this public discipleship will cause his life to be at risk again as this chapter progresses.)
what will your legacy be?
what do you want it to be?
no matter how great or poor your resume is, whatever you have done in your own power, apart from Jesus – your resume is temporary and will be soon forgotten by all on this earth.
however – one legacy is eternal and can affect many through God’s grace, Jesus work and the Spirit’s power. that legacy – is as a worshiper of the LORD, God.
what will your legacy be?
it all begins and … it all continues with one act.
that act – submission to Jesus Christ as LORD of all, and savior of your soul. he is the only one who can make you a worshiper of the LORD, God. and, the only act that allows you to live your whole life (like daniel) as a worship – is daily submitting your life to Jesus and his work. daily submission, gives the Spirit power in us and through us. daily submission, fights our desire to build earthly resumes. daily submission, puts us on our knees as a worshiper.
Lord, we bend our knee to you. you are king, you are savior, you are everything.
this is the legacy that matters.
~ john ryan