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What Hinders People From Accepting The Truth of God?

In studying the book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar (the king of Babylon) has been not the primary focus. Still, he does play a definite role in God’s working in Daniel's life and this particular part of history. He really interests me, and he gives some insight into mankind in general. I want to take a quick look at one of those insights in this column. One of the questions I have asked myself is, “what takes him so long to get the reality of the truths of God?" He shows him some very unusual things that it would seem to convince him. Such as the three Hebrew men not only surviving but thriving in the fiery furnace in Chapter 3. He attributes it to their God, but he does not personally commit to this God. So the question is that when it is so plain to me, what takes him so long to see that this God of the Bible is the God of all creation and the God that he can trust? I want to draw from Daniel chapter four, two hindrances that slow Nebuchadnezzar down and maybe you as well.

My first consideration is “other gods.” Nebuchadnezzar lived in a culture where many gods were the norm. Although there were predominant gods, there were many lesser gods to fill the needs. One “god” couldn’t do it all. Up until his encounter with Daniel and his friends, he had probably never even considered that there was only one true God. It was his way of life. We are really not so different today. In today's culture, where a one "True God" is believed by many, there is still a bent even by believers to other gods. We may quickly name money, power, sex, which is only the tip of the iceberg. May I suggest to you that in our culture, there is a growing acceptance to push the God of the Bible out and replace Him with the earth. "Mother Earth" is one concept that is used or even "Mother nature." If you believe that there is no God, it makes sense. The earth created itself in some way, and all that exists in it. Logically it has as much power as we ascribe to God. Whether it’s this “naturalist idea of a god or any other god, it has a tendency to get in the way of accepting the truths of the God of the Bible.

The second aspect of King Nebuchadnezzar's life that slowed down his belief in God is summed up with the word "pride." In reality, this also leads to another god, and that is simply put ourselves. It is inherent to all of us. From a very early age, you hear a child say, "I don't need your help, I can do it." In some form, those words ring from our hearts in some or all aspects of our lives. Read Daniel, Chapter 4. Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself in praise for what he has accomplished. He didn't need God to help him or do it for him. God warned him and then gave him time to repent, but he still believed he didn't need anything from God. God did something out of the ordinary, He took away Nebuchadnezzar's sanity. He was given the heart and mind of an animal and lived like one. He grazed like an ox. His hair grew out like eagles feathers, and his nails grew to be like bird claws. This lasted for seven periods of time. Many believe that this was probably seven years. One day he raised his head to heaven and lifted up his hear to God. He gave God his rightful place. He was taught that he needed God.

The same is right for you and me. If you are not a believer, your gods or your pride will keep you away from Him because you will not see a need for Him. This is the starting point, understanding that you need Him. If you are a believer, it can keep you from trusting Him in the most fundamental aspects of life. It will keep you from experiencing life as He intended for you to experience it. You need God!

Pastor Lynn Rettig

Musselshell Community Bible Church