Now that we have extensively talked about the Judgment, which separates people based on the ultimate decision they have made to follow Jesus or follow the devil. But the journey to judgment is a rather long one. The choice of a lifetime to choose salvation over perishing is not as fleeting a decision as choosing whether to eat out on some night.

At first glance, Daniel 1 seems to be about eating the right food. We’ve talked about health before, but Daniel 1 is more than just about health. Daniel 1:8 reveals that Daniel made the choice to honor God even before the uncertainty came.

What followed as a result speaks volumes to the importance of making small decisions that seemingly have little consequence. Daniel’s decision to follow God’s law began in the heart. It manifest itself in a 10 day test to prove that the diet was sustainable. This led to a three year apprenticeship where Daniel and his friends impressed King Nebuchadnezzar.

Why did Daniel and his friends refuse the unclean foods and drinks offered at the king’s table? Because they knew it was against God’s law.

That seems like a silly answer in an age of Enlightenment and research. Why attribute it all to a God that we cannot see and that many do not believe?

Earlier we linked to posts about Daniel 1 and health. In them we discuss the research that shows what effect these foods/drinks have on your bodies. Daniel, a captive in a foreign land that was not his home, knew that he had to keep his mind sharp at all times if he was going to hear God’s voice and remain faithful to Him.

The greatest conflict in the history of the universe is not physical. Paul says that our war is not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principilaties, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). In other words, this is a war in another realm, and we are at the center of it. The battle is over our mind, and our allegiance. This is why it is important to treat our bodies as temples, and not cloud the seat of judgment.

Like Daniel, we too are captives in a foreign land. We are strangers wandering this Earth until we can go to our real home – heaven. Until that happens, let us keep our minds clear in what we eat and how we take care of our bodies. Let us be on the alert at all times for when the devil will try to attack. It is only by the grace of God that we will be able to stand when the time comes. But it is not a one time stand we make. It is a series of smaller stands in the every day situations and temptations we face. It can be as simple as choosing what food to eat, to not adhering to laws that force you to worship someone other than God.

What will you choose?