Has This Knowledge Made A Difference?

Daniel 5:22
“But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.

King Belshazzar grew up seeing how King Nebuchadnezzar led the Babylonian kingdom. He saw how the God of Israel kept proving to be superior to all the gods of Babylon. He heard everyone in the palace acknowledge that you don’t mess with the God of Israel.

Belshazzar heard that several times King Nebuchadnezzar made a declaration that no other god should be worshipped and respected apart from the God of Israel. There was no doubt in everyone’s mind that the God of Israel was the God of gods. This knowledge was not hidden from Belshazzar and his advisors.

Yet when Belshazzar became king he seemed to have forgotten that the God of Israel should be revered and not messed with. Belshazzar held a party to celebrate his workers. During the party as they drank and enjoyed themselves, Belshazzar called for golden cups that belonged to the God of Israel so that he can use them against the wish of that God.

King Belshazzar took the golden cups that belonged to the God of Israel and used them to drink and have fun. To add insult to injury, Belshazzar and his guests started praising other gods while using utensils that belonged to the God of Israel. God of Israel got angry and sent a hand to write on the wall a message of judgment. No one could read and understand until when Daniel the servant of the God of Israel came to meet Belshazzar.

Daniel accuses Belshazzar of not using the knowledge he had to make better decisions. Daniel tells Belshazzar that he knew the power of the God of Israel but he acted contrary to what he knew. That knowledge should have humbled him before the God of Israel, but the knowledge did not elicit any reverence.

Daniel tells Belshazzar that since the knowledge did not help him, he won’t be given any further knowledge, he will instead be kicked out of power and get killed tonight. God had exposed him to so much knowledge but the knowledge made no difference. Therefore, what remained was a final judgment against him, since knowledge couldn’t be of any use to him. Has what you know made a difference?

God had enabled us to get so much knowledge. We have seen good examples and bad examples in our neighborhood. We have observed our parents and guardians. We have met people and seen how their lives turn out. Has this knowledge made a difference?

We have seen drunkards wreck their lives and families. Has this knowledge made a difference? We have seen promiscuous people end up with diseases and complicated lives. Has this knowledge made a difference? We have seen people take loans and fail to achieve anything because of a lack of planning and peer pressure. Has this knowledge made a difference? We have seen people rush into marriage and rush out with broken hearts and crushed lives. Has this knowledge made a difference?

You know the importance of worshipping God, yet you avoid worship. Has this knowledge made a difference? You know the importance of healthy loving, exercising, eating a balanced diet, etc. Has this knowledge made a difference?

King Belshazzar was condemned to death by the God of heaven because the knowledge he had did not make any difference in his life. Save us from knowing without acting on what we know. Give us courage and wisdom to live according to that which we now know, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

NEW BOOK ALERT: Click this link to get details on a new book by Dr. Rei Kesis (For other details send a WhatsApp Message to +254 740 434 683)

1. Rei Kesis YouTube Channel (subscribe, click on the notification, and share)
2. Rei Kesis books on Amazon (Amazon will sell and deliver anywhere in the world. For those in Kenya you can buy from any ABC close to you. ABC is Adventist Book Center)
3. Rei Kesis daily blog here.