Year after dangerous year, the backslidden nation of Judah had turned a deaf ear to the warnings of God. His judgment finally fell. In 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar, the undisputed most powerful ruler of the ancient world conquered Judah. He crushed the nation, orphaned its young people, cut them off from their homes and families and put an entire generation of teenagers under the power of an alien culture.

Everything they ever knew and loved was swept away. Devotion to the true God all but vanished as the young of Judah were introduced to a civilization filled with the most astonishing array of beauty, technology and spiritual options the world had ever seen. Few past commitments survived. Babylon, the greatest empire in human history, totally took over the hearts, minds, lives and worship of an entire generation.

Nebuchadnezzar was the chief ruler in history to dominate the whole known world. He took the cream of every nation he conquered and assimilated them into the Babylonian civil service. He chose the very best of Judahs youth to utilize in his service and to contribute their gifts, talents and powers to the empire of Babylon. They had to be "without defect". Once selected, they were entered into a program of intensive re-education with thorough grounding in the language, literature and life-style of the ruling world power.

Nothing was permitted to distract them from their studies. Their names were changed to include the name of a pagan deity. Their very purpose, identity and destiny was to be swallowed up by the power of Babylon. They were even to forget they were Jews; and especially that they were originally chosen to be God's servants.

Yet astonishingly a small number stood up for God. Almost alone in the days of the Babylonian exile this covenantal remnant was represented by just four teenagers. Wonders of the ancient world, they were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

Daniel was about 14 when he was taken away from his home and forcibly marched to a strange land. He was subjected to strong indoctrinations and surrounded by powerful and jealous enemies who plotted against his life. He was exposed to great temptation. Yet he not only survived three different governments, but was considered so significant and irreplaceable he continued to serve in each one in exactly the same position of power and responsibility. Daniel and his three friends had to face their "Red Dawn" without warning. The rest of their lives demonstrate the real truth about godliness; true spirituality never depends on things being easy.

What happened to Daniel has happened again in your time. The pressures they faced and the program they were put on is here again. Babylon the ancient city is gone. (Is. 13:19-22; Jer. 51:37-58) Babylon, the spiritual power of the world never left. (Rev. 17:1-5) Young people on the edge of the 21st century have to deal with Babylon today. You face the same choices Daniel and his three friends had to face. Babylon is alive, dangerous and dominant in the ruling civilizations of our century.

Daniel's decision to obey God in all things could only have one practical consequence; the utter highest and best he was capable of achieving. At the end of the days among them all were found "none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah" and in all matters of wisdom and understanding ... he found them ten times better " (Daniel 1:18-20) If Daniel had no grace or courage to refuse the royal provision associated with idolatry, he never would have had the power to stand firm in the lions den, nor his three friends survived the threat of the fiery furnace.

Daniel's band put God first. They dared believe His ways were not only excellent, but extraordinary. They took the kings own goals and turned them into an adventure in showing their world the glory of God. He had in turn honored them and stirred up in their live's gifts, privileges and authority they never dreamed they could have.

You stand now where they stood. Here, in the Daniel Files, we have brought together some of God's great open secrets, the Bible way of achieving your highest and best. Dare to do what Daniel did, and you will never be the same again. The God who made them great for His glory is with you now, unchanged and unchanging, ready to show the world once more through you what it means to really live. He awaits only another Daniel band. What He did then He can do again.

We challenge you to prove His power. Dare to be a Daniel. In Jesus Christ the Lord, the future belongs to you.

Winkie & Bill Pratney

New Dawn 1996 AD

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