The handwriting is on the wall.
And the hand that wrote, “mene, mene, tekel, upharsin”, is the same hand that has drawn a line in the sand of our society.
God had a message for the Babylonian King Belshazzar (Daniel, chapter 5). As the prophet of God interpreted the Divine word, the king was left with no doubt to its meaning. But did it bother him? No! Instead of repenting, he proudly told Daniel about the great position he was promoting him to. The king missed the point completely! The handwriting didn’t change the king, so instead, it testified against him.
Belshazzar had witnessed examples of humility in the past; even his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself and acknowledged the Most High God as the Ultimate Ruler. He knew of godly men; men such as Daniel. He had ample time to turn from his wicked ways and to humble himself before the Mighty God of Israel. But he was above such acts of contrition. He was so full of himself, there was only one thing that could conquer his ugly pride; and that was death.
He wouldn’t listen to the prophet; he refused to acknowledge his arrogant pride, so God let the king’s hourglass run out of sand.
Now a line has been drawn in our society’s sandy foundation! God is saying to this nation, “enough is enough!”
The line represents the end of His “tolerance.”
You may say, “But I thought God was slow to anger, and not willing that anyone perish”.
He IS slow to anger. He IS NOT willing that anyone perish. But what else can He do?
America must repent of its pride and arrogance. God RESISTS (fights against) the proud, but comes to the aid of the humble.
American political and civic leaders, from President Barak Obama to the mayor of Hicksville, USA; you must humble yourselves before God. Humility before fellow Americans is a good place to begin.
American spiritual leaders, whether a mighty Apostle who carries a Divine “touch”, or the pastor of a church with only two people; you ALL must recognize the line in the sand.
This society has become intoxicated with self! As Belshazzar shamelessly used the vessels of gold, which were once dedicated to the work of God, to feed the immoral cravings of himself and his guests, so America shamelessly mocks God, His people, His work, and His institution, the church. This society is consumed with eliminating all traces, even the minutest sign, of God.
Many churches have fallen prey to the spirit of the age; re-create God into the image of fallen, sinful man. Market God as One Who cares for people, but doesn’t care what they do or believe. Anything goes with a loving God. But that lie will soon require payment in full. The wages of sin is death. Period. And it is not negotiable.
Yes, the line has been drawn by the finger of God. See it in the sand; the sand America has chosen to use as its societal foundation. They hear the words of Jesus, along with the leaders of other religions, and mix them all together. For diversity’s sake, of course. Then, they choose the parts of each religion they like, understand, are more comfortable with, and throw the rest away.
And then they wonder why their life, and their nation, is falling apart!
The line has been drawn. Belshazzar, will you heed the warning? Merry men and women intoxicated with power and pride, will you acknowledge your inadequacies and bankrupt morals? Will you realize, before it’s too late, there’s only one way for this nation, this society, to recover?
Americans of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and race: your hope doesn’t depend on who wins an election, or who has the majority in Congress.
Continue to step up to the line and challenge God if you’d like. But don’t be deceived. God is not mocked. Nor will He compromise His character and integrity because someone said He isn’t real.
Wake up America. Put down the cup, Belshazzar. Rend your heart, oh merry ones, and not your garments.
The handwriting’s on the wall; a line’s been drawn in the sand.
The Finger of God has written, “It’s time.”
“And you his (Nebuchadnezzar’s) [grand]son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians…
“That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed…” (Daniel 5:22-31 ESV)
Jan Grace 