Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-17
Daniel in the Lion S Den
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD W. TOMEINS.
Text: Daniel vi.
Text: Daniel vi.

hymn, and IL suggests the lesson which
we should learn. the lesson Of courage.
But the courage must be Christian
courage. A man may face cannon and
enter upon wild and dangerous cx-
ploitS and yet be coward at heart If
he Is not brave enough to face and
conquer a temptation TO do wrong.
confess cannot understand why d
young fellow who will face without
fear untold dangers will be afraid to
refuse glass Of Intoxicating liquor
which he knows he ought not to drink.
because he may be subjected TO silly
ridlculc. Think OF a big athletic fellow
blushins when weak young woman
hands him Il drink of wine because he
Is too timid to say In manly fashion:
NO. thank you. do not drink" The
glory Of Daniel's courage was that he
refused 10 do wrong and persisted in
doing right regardless Of threats.
The Jews kept up their religion even
in Babylon. and looked towards Jeru-
salem when they prayed because II was
the city which God had built for them
and 10 which they believed He would
permit them to return. 1t was sign
Of their faith and of their love for
God. No stronger proof Of Daniels
goodness could be found than that
which his enemies expressed: I'VE shall
not find any occasion against this
Daniel except we lind IT agains, him
concerning the law Of his Cod I
wonder how many Of us could stand Il
test like that,
SIMPLY DID As IIE WAS
ACCUSTOMED 10 DO
Notice how Daniel simply kept on fis
way anh did as he was accustomed 10
do when he heard OF the decree that
under peril Of being killed by lions no
man for thirty days was 10 ask a petit
ton of any God or man save OF King
Il ynI "a
by going ostentatiously TO do I'M
usual thing We might think that lie
courtcd death. But ne simply did AS
he was accustomed TO DO. We are
never justified in going ovt OF our way
TO excite our enemies BY so doing
we might well be thought TO make Il
show OF our religion and so incur the
danger or Hypocrisy. God never asks
VIZ TO advertise our faith. Christ re-
bukcd those who prayed IN public
places 10 be seen by men. The true
Christian Is ne who follows quietly
without ostcntation and without con
cfaiIncnt, the duties Of his Christian
life. We must not hide our faith. nor
mus, we Haunt it in such fashion as
10 create doubt concerning our sin
cerity
Darius was afraid 10 deny his own
decree. He knew well enough that
jealousy was the cause OF the accusa
ton against Daniel, and while he hal
been trapped by these bad men in max
ing foolish decree, he should have
been brave enough TO repudiatc ii
when he saw he WAS wrong. 1t is
never right TO keep promise when We
know cvi! viii result from keeping
ii. II Is better TO bc accused OF in
consistency than 10 be accused by The
st!! voice within the heart Darius
VAS in many ways u great King. but
In l. y
easy to trap a Christian. 1t ought to
be very hard 10 keep him in the trap.
one wonders at the Kings declaration
to Daniel as he was cast into the den
OF lions: Thy God whom thou scrv-
est continually. He will deliver thee"
EXAMPLE, OF MORE
VALUE THAN PREACHING
Was he impressed BY Daniels good
life and by his fidelity TO his worship?
Probably. y good. sincere Christian
life VIII do more TO convert bad men
than any amount OF preaching. What
YOU arc speaks so loud that cannot
hear what YOU say" wrote Emerson.
Tho pure Ia heart not only see God.
but they make ii possible for others
10 see God In them. The multitude
took knowledge of the apostles that
they had been with Jesus.
Well. Daniel faced the lions. ] have
dear picture in my study Of Daniel
ly upward 10 whore a bright light
shines down upon him. The lions stand
back, glazing AT him. but they dare
not approach him. He seems 10 be
ccmmuning with God. think the
suggestion is d true one. Whether the
troubles that come 10 US because we
arc sincere Christians are removed or
not tand God does not always stop
The mouths Of our lions. because lie
plans to do some better thing for us)
the power Of God is with us TO sustain
us and the Ugh, of heaven shines down
upon us. He never leaves us alone,
and tho peace He gives makes us care
less regarding lifc's burdens. What
care what men may say or do to me
when know that God is on my side?
Let the trials come; l know Whom 7
have believed, and to Him 1 commit
my life. my soul. my all.
FAITH Is WORTH
TRIAL TT RWINGS
We make mistake if we think to
escape pain because we are Christians
But the pain that comes ~ n glorious
main. because we know NC are suf-
ferinE as Christ Himself suffered Tra
martyrs and saints. both ancient and
modern. had JOY and peace all their
own. Faith is worth tho trials 1t NAV
bring; just as we believe now that
our country's troubles are nothing In
comparison with the worlds freedom
from tyranny for which we are con-
tending. The end for which we strive
is the great thing. And when true
peace is attained and the world is
free from autCcracy we VIII count the
men who died to bring so divine IL
result ~ our country's sainiE and
martyrs. Always God is with those
who dare to do right and to fight for
righteousness. They can look up and
a
not afraid. for I am with YOU"
What, then. are the points Of our
lesson" First. surely. courage To do
right, regardless of consequences
Especially courage to do Gods will.
our Christianity Of to-day needs the
lesson ii is Il little nabby II has
grown self-satisfied. il does not cost
much TO be Il Christian to-day. NOT
because the world is converted. but
because our Christianity is not bold
and uncompromising. Why not fight
as christian nation against the evils
which surround us" Why IS the church
so silent regarding the saloon and i'm
purity, regarding divorce and tho re-
N q rrip non Of "a