Sacred Things

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Daniel 5:1
How can light live with darkness? (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Canadian logger Ron Fahey took the heat for
removing some logs he intended to use as
firewood. The de-branched specimens had been
lying in a woodpile on the campus of Mount Alison
University. Fahey had been given permission to snatch
logs found on the grounds. But this particular stack of
wood was actually a “sculpture” named Deadwood
Sleep. Fortunately, the hardworking logger was stopped
before he did too much damage. “To me, it was just
a pile of wood,” he said. “If that’s art, then I’m in the
wrong racket.”

King Belshazzar of Babylon was definitely in the
wrong when he decided to use some sacred things
for profane purposes (Daniel 5:2). He ordered certain
gold and silver cups to be used for a wild party he was
hosting. Problem was, the mighty fine goblets had been
taken from the Temple (“the house of God”) in Jerusalem
when a previous king, Nebuchadnezzar, had conquered
the city (v.3). Belshazzar had offended God with His
sacrilege (v.23).

His sentence? God spoke through the prophet Daniel
and told him that his life and reign were about to end
(v.26). That very night it was lights out for Belshazzar
(v.30).

God is holy, and He has called us to be holy. Sadly, at
times we profane what is sacred. Consider these words
from the apostle Paul: “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the
Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? . . . You must honor
God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

What are the sacred things in your life? What are those things that you would
never do or say because they’re unholy and offensive to God? Write them down
and commit them to Him today.

—Tom Felten

more›
Read 2 Corinthians 2:1 and carefully consider what Paul is saying to
do as you “work toward complete holiness.”

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How seriously do you take God’s holiness? Why is it important for us
to recognize what God considers to be sacred?