Things Can Change — Pt. 1
Nebuchadnezzar The Tyrant
Do you believe people can change? Like seriously. Do you really think people can change? I believe we all want to believe that others, that we, can change. The problem is that the world around us doesn’t really believe and certainly doesn’t portray that people can change. There are many pop-culture references of change, but very rarely is there one that changes through and through. Typically, one changes purely out of selfish reasoning, suiting their purposes at the time. Think Magneto from the X-Men franchise, or more recently, Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones.
The God-Inspired Scripture paints a different story. Change is a common theme one will find even in a cursory reading of it. When people meet Him they are never ever the same. Pop-culture gets it wrong in that we can change merely on our own ability, which always fails or is fleeting. Instead, we must understand it takes the Divine Alchemist to spark, mold, and seal change. He alone is the Miracle Maker.
What about the worst of the worst? Can they change? What about those who are so helplessly drunk with power? Those who are so consumed with empire that they flirt with the disillusioned mirage of divinity? Can the worst of world leaders change? Would you bristle at the thought that Mussolini could have changed? What about Hitler? What about current tyrannical world leaders? We, typically, withhold change from some. “Clearly, they’re too far gone to change.” I can think of very little that our current president is doing that I believe is good and godly. Yet, if I cannot believe that God can change even him, then how could I believe God can change anyone? How can God even change me?
I believe God can change the unchangeable. Transformative work by the Creator on behalf of the created is integral to understanding the Gospel. And my friends, the Gospel is what all of history and the future is about!
There are numerous powerful people described in the Scriptures who are thoroughly tyrannical. One of these is Nebuchadnezzar, the Ruler of ancient Babylon. History has much to say about Nebuchadnezzar. But only the Bible tells a particular story about his dramatic shift. But who was he?
Nebuchadnezzar was a tyrant, drunk on power and addicted to conquest. He conquered and pillaged. He destroyed and exiled. He threatened and murdered. He took what he wanted and if anyone got in his way, he would not hesitate to destroy. We see this throughout history and Scripture. To establish this point, one merely needs to read Daniel chapter 3 and the story of the Golden Image.
Mere moments after praising the God most High for promising prosperity, Nebuchadnezzar turns right around and sets himself up as the god whom should be worshiped. The cost of disobedience? Being burned alive. His view of himself was deity.
…he thought it a great thing to be the golden head of the image, and owned himself obliged to God for it; but, his mind rising with his condition, now he thinks that too little, and, in contradiction to God himself and his oracle, he will be all in all. — Matthew Henry
Nebuchadnezzar was drunk with power and what he had accomplished for himself. Nothing could stand in his way. Not the peoples of the earth. Certainly not the “gods” that others worshiped. Only Nebuchadnezzar was worthy of adulation and worship. “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30) By my mighty power… for the glory of my majesty… Certainly, like others before and after him, Nebuchadnezzar was beyond hope.
“O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
I love that God doesn’t give up. I love that God never throws His hands up in exasperation and says, “well this guy is beyond hope.” Rather, God looks at the most challenging obstacles, the most wretched individuals, the most horrific events, and says, “I can fix this…” This is the story of the Scriptures… this is the Gospel. God can change the unchangeable.
History is very quiet about Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity and return to the throne. Thankfully, Daniel ensures the world can see what God can do with people… when they let Him. God kept the promise of driving Nebuchadnezzar away from his kingdom. He humbled the haughty man. He struck him with insanity to the point when he ran from civilization to live as an animal. Just as prophesied, it took seven years for Nebuchadnezzar to understand that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will.”
Nebuchadnezzar knew who God was. He had seen instances of His divine power before, but he never allowed himself to truly meet the Creator. He never had that moment when he stood before the Divine and communed with Him. Like many of us we believe just knowing about Him, or living a good life, or even going to church once in a while is good enough… but we never stop to look Him in the eye and meet Him. When people meet God they change. Listen to Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony, proving that God can change the unchangeable:
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have you done?”
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble. — Daniel 4:34–37
Do you believe people can change? Do you believe you can change? I promise you one person who does believe in change is the Unchangeable One! He believes it because He instigates it with regularity. But change does take a human element as well. Nebuchadnezzar had many opportunities to accept the change God was placing on him before the insanity hit, but he never accepted that change. His story should teach us that God is constantly attempting to reach us. He has the right and power to smack us around a bit, if needed, but we don’t have to reach that point! Be reconciled to God!
God wants the best for each of us. Jesus came on this earth to show us that His way is the better way, and that He is greater than anything else. But we have to believe it. “To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” — John 1:12
Take this to heart: the sinner can be sanctified. The unrepentant believer can be liberated. The habitual sinner can find relief. God can change the unchangeable. It all starts with the Gospel. God created man. Man attempted to be god. Man became separated from god. God became man and died, horrifically, to reconcile that separation. Now God asks you, and me, to meet Him and allow Him to change us. We cannot work our way to Him. Being the greatest at anything will never bridge the gap. We must meet Him and allow Him to do the transformation.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
I implore you as Paul the Apostle did. Be reconciled to God! Allow Him to create you into something new! God can fix the gap of enmity that separates you. Allow His love to break through.
Until your love broke through
