An Eternal Algorithm

" Not only is it certain that this life will end, but it is certain that from the perspective of eternity it will be seen to have passed in a flash.  The toils which seem so endless will be seen to have been quite transitory and abundantly worthwhile."
                                                               ( John Wenham, 20th Century Anglican Bible Scholar)



     In the recent movie, "The Imitation Game", which is based on a true story, Alan Turing endeavors to break the code of the German-built enciphering machine named "Enigma".  This machine was used by the Nazi's in WWII to wreak havoc on Britain and her allies.  It contained both mechanical and electrical subsystems which made it virtually impossible for even the brightest minds to crack the code.  To make matters worse, the code was consistently changed on a daily basis.

     Alan Turing was hired at Britain's codebreaking facility at Bletchley Park.  His credentials were impressive: computer scientist, mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, and mathematical biologist.  Utilizing algorithms and computations, he built the Turing machine which was successfully able to crack the code. ( This machine would become the precursor to the computer).  Not only were the Nazi's defeated because of Turing's invention, but it is also estimated that the war was lessened by two to four years.

     Obviously, Alan Turing was exceedingly gifted. He was also dubbed as one of the most renowned genius' of the twentieth century. There was, however, a very unfortunate aspect of his life.  Raised with Christian teachings (and persecution due to his homosexuality), he abandoned his faith as an early teen.  He became an avowed atheist after a close friend of his died from tuberculosis.  His life concluded with an apparent suicide, cutting short the extraordinary gifts and talents he possessed.  It is impossible to comprehend the potential eternal good that could have been accomplished through this talented man had his natural abilities been commingled with God's supernatural power.

     A Biblical example of this multiplied effect is Daniel.  At the mere age of fifteen, Daniel was handsome and wise and chosen (with three of his friends) above all the Hebrew slaves to reside in the Babylonian king's palace.  It was the kings policy to only choose the most qualified and learned people of the conquered nations to train for service in his government.  Gifted with natural ability, Daniel would also quickly reveal his godly character and devotion to the One True God.

     For more than seventy years, Daniels served four different Babylonian kings faithfully.  He was appointed as chief advisor to three of them: Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, and Cyrus.  Amidst captivity and persecution, Daniel continued to thrive under the rule of these pagan kings.  God had strategically positioned Daniel to have great impact, both on earth and for all eternity.

     The legacy of Daniel's ministry will continue indefinately.  His prophecies provide the framework upon which all other Biblical prophecies are built.  The anointed words he penned foreshadowed both earthly kingdoms and God's eternal kingdom that will last forever.  This parallel message constantly serves as a reminder that God has absolute sovereignty, as well as an eternal reign.

     We, too, must view our lives in terms of a parallel world view.  We traverse this life remembering that we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light
 ( Colossians 1:13) and that it is our responsibility to help others to do the same.  Regardless of the challenges we face, our hope lies in the fact that we are en route to a place of no tears, no death, no mourning, no crying, no pain, and where all things are new ( Revelation 21: 4-5).

     F.F. Bruce, a 20th century Bible scholar, describes it this way: " We are refugees from the sinking ship of this present world order, so soon to disappear; our hope is fixed in the eternal order, where the promises of God are made good to His people in perpetuity."

     In order to navigate this world effectively, there are several life lessons we can glean from Daniel's life that provide for us an eternal algorithm of success.  With our eyes fixed on heaven, and Christ living within us, we are empowered to live in an upward trajectory that propels us toward our heavenly home.  As we walk by faith, we can expect that God will take our impossibilities and make them possible.  This is the multiplied effect: that all things become Him-possible!

     The first lesson Daniel teaches us is to live a life of character and integrity within a wicked culture.  Daniel was a dedicated Jewish man who was thrust into a society that immediately pressured him to compromise God's principles.  His faith, heritage, and identity were assaulted in an effort to diminish his loyalty to God.

     Despite these obstacles, God gave Daniel and his peers strategies and self-discipline to overcome.  God also gave Daniel divine favor with those in authority over him.  Daniel requested one thing from his commander ( when asked to compromise his religious dietary laws): " Please test your servants for ten days and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink." ( Daniel 1:12).

     The commander obliged Daniel's wishes, even though he had reservations.  He knew that his job was in jeopardy if  Daniel or his friends lost weight or were unhealthy.  God did not let them down, though, for after ten days they looked healthier and weighed more than all the other youths.  Therefore, they were allowed to continue to honor God with their dietary practices.

     The second lesson Daniel teaches us is faithfulness, first and foremost, to our God.  Daniel's friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were ordered to bow down to a false idol, which they refused to do.  Their penalty was death and the method was a fiery furnace.

     They told the king: " If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But, even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up." ( Daniel 3:17-18).

     Their words infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar.  He retaliated by heating the furnace seven times hotter, but to no avail.  He also had his guards bind their hands and feet and cast them into the fiery pit.  Despite the fact that all his guards were killed by the heat, When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace he saw not three men walking in the fire, but four.  The fourth man looked like the Son of God!  When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged, not one hair on their bodies was singed and not one of them even smelled like smoke. Yet again, God proved His faithfulness to those who are faithful!

     The third lesson Daniel teaches us is to have a sevants heart and to use that in conjunction with our giftings.  It is our spiritual gifts that make our servant's heart effective.  One of Daniel's spiritual gifts was that " he understood all kinds of visions and dreams." ( Daniel 1:17).  He was also able to unravel complicated puzzles, and riddles, and to untie complicated knots.  He could do this because he knew that " there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries". ( Daniel 2:28).

     He used these gifts in conjunction of prayer and service to the king.  Daniel prayed for revelation and the ability to demonstrate the power of God to those who didn't know Him.  His service included:
dream interpretation, vision interpretation, and the willingness to showcase his faith in the direst of circumstances ( i.e. the lion's den).

     The last major lesson Daniel teaches us is to seek after wisdom along with the ability to use it wherever God has positioned us.  Even though Daniel's heart was to return to Jerusalem, his prophetic ministry began and ended in Babylon.  Despite this disappointment, Daniel continued to glorify God where he was.

     There were still many unanswered questions at the end of Daniel's life, but he chose to trust God with his queries.  He also continued to esteem wisdom and knowledge for the sake of God's kingdom.  One of his concluding assessments is as follows: " Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness,
like the stars forever and ever." ( Daniel 12:3).

     God never leaves one detail of our lives to chance.  He has given us everything we need for life and godliness, and He expects that we will use these tools and help others to use them, as well. 
His Word gives us the answer key to have victory and success using His infallible, eternal, algorithm.



" Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be lived in light of eternity."
                                                                                                                          Charles Spurgeon