“So, the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you’ ” (Daniel 6:16).
In 2013, celebrity cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted to having lied about his use of performance-enhancing drugs to maintain the illusion of the most impressive career in history. Known for his perseverance, he thought that lying would protect his notable image. After recovering from cancer, he went on to win a race seven times in a row. That race, the Tour de France, is known for being one of the most challenging in all of sports. Therefore, it is not surprising that before the investigation that disgraced him, his fans practically worshiped him.
Of course, it is not uncommon for celebrities to disappoint their fans. Whether it be through an adulterous relationship made public or the release of racist comments during a private conversation, the worship of celebrities eventually ends in disappointment. The only safe kind of worship is that of the creator God, who is the source of true success.
Darius, like other kings before him, was willing to protect his celebrity status using government laws. As the king of the powerful empire of Medo-Persia, he had to maintain a great public image. When a group of his officials lured him into improving his reputation, he made a decree that for a month people could pray only to him. Soon, he realized that the whole thing had been a trap in order to target one of his top government officials: Daniel.
Darius was a fan of Daniel. His respect for his chief advisor was clearest when he spent the night fasting while his official faced the lion’s den for having disobeyed the worship law. Daniel could have become
an even greater celebrity, had it not been for the miraculous intervention in the lion’s den. That miracle caused even Darius to acknowledge that the credit for Daniel’s success was not in Daniel. In response to the miracle, Darius made a decree giving honour to the only One who deserves adoration: the God whom Daniel worshiped.
Dearest Lord, teach me to live for Your glory instead of my own.
