the promise that after the king was willing to humble himself under the mighty hand of God, then in due time he would be exalted again. THE DREAM FULFILLED (4:28-37) Gabelien, “Sad to say, Nebuchad nezzar even after this warning did not repent nor turn from his evil way. -Nevertheless, in His grace, God gave an additional year of respite. Then came a climactic moment when Nebuchadnezzar, surveying the won ders of the city of Babylon, became inflated with pride and directly chal lenged God by ascribing the glory to himself. While the boastful word was in his very mouth, leaving no doubt as to the cause of the judgment, im mediately the king was smitten. The tragic result of his vainglory was that he who had attempted to. make himself more than a man became less than human. His kingdom, seemingly so se cure, was in an instant gone from him, along with his reason as well.” For seven dreary years Nebuchad nezzar lived like an animal. Finally, after many days Nebuchadnezzar with some faint glimmer of rationality left to him, although speechless, silently acknowledged the sovereignty of God by lifting up his eyes unto heaven. The chastisement ended, the king’s mind was restored. His first act was to praise God — to acknowledge His greatness and his own insignificance. Not only did God restore to him his reason, but the honor and glory of his kingdom as well. This time Nebu chadnezzar did not forget the lesson taught him. His last words appear to be those of a truly converted man. In this history of Nebuchadnezzar there is doubtless to be seen a fore shadowing of the destruction that will finally come on all Gentile power in its haughtiness and insolence. CHRIST THE DOOR There is no one who can excuse him self for rejecting God’s gift of eternal life by saying that he didn’t understand. The Lord Jesus Christ always used far- miliar illustrations anyone could readily grasp. For instance, He called Himself the door. By doing so He employed one C.
BIOU . . . when academic excellence b coupled with highest spiritual standards. of the humblest forms of entrance for He referred to a door to the sheepfold. With so many false and misleading cries in the world, how blessed it is to realize that the Saviour is not “a" door or even one of many doors, but that He Himself is “THE” door. In olden times, as of course today, the shepherd would take every precaution in protection of his sheep. A t night he would check to see that every one of the animals was inside the fold. Then, as an added measure of safety, he himself would lie down at the opening and actu ally become the door. In this way he could be assured that not one of the sheep could get out without passing over his body, awakening him. Likevnse, no wild animal could get inside unthout first of all disturbing the shepherd. What a beautiful picture this presents of the Lord Jesus Christ who, Himself, is our Door to salvation. We cannot come into the fold of Christ’s protective love without first of all coming through Him. Nor can anyone or anything come into the fold to harm or to hurt us for Christ Himself is our Keeper. There are those today who try to find peace and satisfaction in life by some other means. Only os one comes to God through the Saviour, however, can he receive the as surance of being in Christ’s eternal fold. Listen to His blessed words, “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” “And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” 33
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker