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I never thought that vaccines would be controversial, but here we are. Think about a vaccine -- it's a momentary pain that is paid to receive a much greater benefit -- the pain you accept is far, far greater than the pain you are avoiding. With an effective vaccine, you receive far more than you give -- this is why we're all so eager for a COVID-19 vaccine. Millions would line up for it, despite the temporary pain of the needed, because they know that the immunity from COVID-19 is well worth the cost of temporary pain.
When you believe in God, truly believe in God, you are placing your allegiance in the most powerful being in the universe. To believe in God is always to receive far more than you give, for if the most we can give is our lives while we receive eternity. Daniel knows the rules and understands the punishment, but he is wholly committed to God, and he understands that what he is doing may cost him his life, but what does he care if he has already received more than that?
I won't presume that this was easy for Daniel. We read that his prayers are thanksgivings, just as he had done previously. If so, his faith is certainly stronger than mine -- I'd be praying for God to perhaps transport me back to a friendlier kingdom! But Daniel's confidence in God was strong enough to know that God would sustain him, even through death. There was nothing the King could do that could threaten his relationship with God.
I don't know what threatens you today. The pandemic certainly looms outside all of our doors. There are economic and societal and political concerns. Each of us worries a little differently. What I do know is that we can have confidence in God to sustain us through each of these challenges, for even death is not an end for us, but rather a new beginning, a transformation, in which God is still on the throne and we still belong to God.
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