Superhero of All Time

Written by Liliya Akhmadeeva and Elena Sinitcyna
Translated from Russian by Natalia Sinitcyna

Dear friend, who do you want to be like? Girls want to be beautiful like fairy-tale princesses. Boys want to be strong like superheroes. This world offers many attractive characters, who you might want to take after. Who should you pick? We will tell you a story about a man who made his decision. This story is written in the Bible. This man was Daniel. The story happened many years ago.

A horrible war was taking place. The enemy entered the Great Jerusalem, many people were killed, and the rest were taken into captivity. There was a young man among the captives, Daniel, who loved God with all his heart and obeyed Him alone. His home, family, and the life he used to have, were left behind. Daniel and three other young men found themselves in Babylon, capital of the country where the people were great warriors and idol worshippers. Do you know what idols are? When people do not know the true and living God, they make images, sculptures of animals, birds and people and worship them. Babylon was filled with idols, and people worshipped them.

Daniel and his three friends continued worshipping and serving the living God, and the Lord blessed them for it. He gave them wisdom that even the Babylonian king did not have. Whatever the young men did always brought success: “God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:17) Even the king of Babylon sought advice from Daniel.

As the years went by, the kings changed, but Daniel remained honoured by all. Of course many people were jealous of his success. And those that were envious made schemes to bring disgrace upon Daniel. However, they could not find anything against him. Therefore, they decided to pass a law that would forbid Daniel to worship his God. They persuaded the king that the people of Babylon should worship him for thirty days as if he were God. And whoever disobeyed the law had to be thrown into the lions’ den. These jealous people were rubbing their hands in expectation of Daniel’s death.

Daniel had to choose between worshipping the king or the one true God. And he made his decision. He went home, got down on his knees and prayed to his God, just like he did his whole life. The wicked men followed him and told the king everything. The king loved Daniel and once the news reached him, he was troubled but could not change the law. So, Daniel was thrown into the pit with hungry lions and the door was shut behind him lest he escape.

Dear friend, what do you think happened next? The Bible says: “Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever!  My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.’  Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: 

‘Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.’ (Daniel 6:19-27)

Today, just like back then, God is mighty to save, work signs and wonders, and deliver us from harm. You do not need to search for idols or superheroes. Who can compare with the living God, who created the whole world, came to earth in human form, was crucified on the cross, took our sin, died, but rose again on the third day?  Jesus is the superhero forever. He is the only one who is worthy to be praised and adored. Just like it is written in the Bible: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Pray with us this prayer: “Lord, teach me to worship You alone and love You with all my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

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