Daniel 12:1-3

            {Prayer}

            We’re starting to see it more and more. These eerie scenes, as if some kind of mass catastrophe unfolded overnight. It’s like a scene right out of a horror or sci-fi movie. Once vibrant figures now lie scattered across the ground, limp and lifeless. Just hours before, there had been light and movement and maybe even joyful music filling the air. But now, as the dawn of morning breaks … nothing. An unsettling silence has descended. The lights are gone, the energy drained, and only empty forms remains, as if something vital had been stolen away in the night.

            Just as dawn reveals these deflated Christmas figures lying flat and lifeless, waiting for the night to bring them back to life … they serve as a reminder to us that without the continual filling and power of the Holy Spirit, without God’s strength, we can struggle to stand tall in our faith, especially among life’s pressures and distractions.

            In Daniel 12, actually throughout the whole book of Daniel, we get a look into the life of the Israelite people living during a time of suffering and persecution. You see, God’s people aren’t living in Israel, in the Promised Land anymore … they’re living in Babylon. And being in Babylon, God’s people are constantly faced with oppression and the temptation to give up their faith and blend in with the pagan world around them. Blending in would allow them to live peacefully.

            But blending in and living the Babylonian lifestyle means they would have to disconnect themselves from God. To be disconnected from God is to lose the continual filling and power of the Holy Spirit. These who blend in become dark, deflated, and lifeless. Whereas “those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Dan. 12:3). Here near the end of Daniel’s life, Daniel is trying to encourage the people, don’t blend, stick to your faith, remain connected to God, to endure.

            Blending in and living peacefully … that is not something that only the Israelites had to face. It is a very real thing today. Living in our own kind of Babylon, we as Christians are faced with oppression and the temptation to give up our faith and blend in with the world around us. And while blending in would allow us to live peacefully … what’s the cost, what are we giving up?

            Without a connection to God, we too become “deflated.” We can easily be weighed down by anxieties, by selfish pursuits, and distractions. Relying solely on worldly resource for our motivation, our drive, our energy, our purpose … when is enough, enough? The pursuit is always for more, for bigger, for better. When are we truly satisfied?

            How often do we try to stand on our own without the Holy Spirit, only to fall flat and be powerless? Sure, we may be able to stand for a little while, but at some point in time, the thought that I can do it all on my own if I try hard enough or I can pick myself up after I fall or the view that what the world gives me is enough … they will fall apart, and you and I with them.

            Our efforts to “shine” on our own will always fall short. We can’t shine with the light of God’s love without His Spirit filling us up. When we are disconnected from Him, we lack the power to reflect God’s righteousness in our lives. We are flat and lifeless. 

            But friends, we don’t have to be found flat and lifeless. We don’t need to be disconnected from the continual filling and power of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word found here in Daniel 12 remind us, it promises us that “those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Dan. 12:3).

            In other words, those who are connected to the power source of God, will be given the power and filling that they need to shine. Despite what was going on in Babylon, we witness through Daniel how powerful the power of God is. Just looking at the lessons we learn in Sunday School. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego … they were told that when they heard the music, they were to fall down and worship the statue of King Nebuchadnezzar. When they didn’t, even when questioned about it by the angry king, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. And even though it was cranked up the heat seven times what it was normally at, these three teenagers were not harmed. They were plugged into the power source of God. God entered that furnace, stood there with them, and protected them.

            Daniel himself, for continuing to pray to the one true God, even though he was highly favored by King Darius, was thrown into the lion’s den for disobeying King Darius’ edict. Daniel wasn’t afraid of being thrown to the lions because he was plugged into the power source of God. God sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions so that they would not harm him.

            Just as God’s people in Babylon faced pressures to blend in, living here in our Babylon today, there are so many things around us that can easily deflate us. Physical health, mental wellbeing, emotional status, attacks on our faith and us individually as Christians. In the midst of feeling deflated, it would be easy to blend in as some of the Israelites did.

            But through Jesus, we have been given this amazing power and the filling up we need in order to shine. Like with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as with Daniel, Jesus, the Light of the World, fills us up with His Spirit, equipping us to stand tall in our faith.

            Christmas yard inflatables are powered by an outside source. They don’t work, they don’t blow up, light up, or play joyful music without being plugged in. It’s no different with you and me. Just as these inflatables need constant connection to their power source, we need regular time in God’s Word, in prayer, and in worship to stay filled with His Spirit. When we stay “plugged in” to God through these means, we are continually renewed and empowered to shine brightly, even when challenges try to deflate us. Through Jesus we’re able to shine His light and live as God’s people reflecting His love and grace in all we do. We are able to, as Luther and Paul say, praise, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances (Meaning to 2^nd Comm. & 1 Thess. 5:18). No matter how “deflated” we may feel … God’s forgiveness and His love bring us back, refilling us so that we can reflect His glory in all that we say and do.

            So, like those Christmas yard inflatables that light up a dark yard, our faith lights up the lives of those around us. When we stay connected, plugged into to our “power source,” to Christ, we don’t just shine for ourselves … we shine for others to see. Our lives reflect the hope, joy, and purpose of the season. Qualities that can be like a beacon to those feeling lost or in darkness.

As Daniel and his friends stood tall in Babylon, their light pointed others toward God’s truth and righteousness. We, too, are called to do the same, sharing the love and truth of Christ with our family, friends, and communities. The holiday season is the perfect time to live out this call as many around us are looking for hope and love. Just as these inflatables light up the night, our light in Christ can point others to the joy and hope that only He can bring.

So I invite you to reflect, to think about … how can you stay filled this season? How can you, as a disciple, a follower of Jesus, let your light shine in your family, workspace, and community? How can you, through the love of Christ, draw others to His light?

            The people in Daniel’s time need to endure, they needed to shine brightly in the darkness of oppression and temptation in Babylon. It definitely wasn’t easy for them. Just as it isn’t always easy for you and me. But we too are called to endure in our faith, to stand tall in a world that often challenges and deflates us. But what did Daniel say? “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Dan. 12:3). You will “shine like the stars” when you remain in Him.

            And here is the good news, we aren’t called to do this in our own strength. Just as Daniel was empowered by God’s presence to stand strong in Babylon, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to endure and shine. God has not left us on our own. He fills us and equips us, giving us everything we need to reflect His light, no matter how difficult or dark our circumstances may be. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the strength and joy to shine brightly for God, even when we feel deflated or weary.

So, as we go into this holiday season, let’s remember that staying connected to our power source is essential. Just as the Christmas yard inflatables can’t stand or shine without power, we need regular time in worship, prayer, and God’s Word to stay filled with His Spirit. By keeping these practices close, we allow God to fill us up, helping us to shine His light in our families, workplaces, and communities.

May we, like Daniel, endure in our faith and let our lights shine in this world. And may the Holy Spirit fill us continually so that we may reflect His love, hope, and joy to those around us. This season, let’s stay connected to God, allowing His power to lift us up and shine through us for His glory. Amen.

            The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and our Light. Amen.