The Weight Loss Went Too Far

Belshazzar went too far with his weight-loss program and ended up weighing 0.00 lb/kg.

Some people do scary things without flinching. He had the boldness and audacity to drink from the vessels from the house of God with his concubines and lords. That was chilling. Eish! One would almost scream out, ‘don’t’ as you read the Scriptures, wishing you were there. He crossed the Red Line. It was profanity of the highest order. He knew he shouldn’t have done that, but he did it anyway.

Well, he numbered his kingdom, weighed himself and was finished that night; Daniel 5:22.

This story is very familiar to most Christians, especially when said in its original context:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting; Daniel 5:25-27.

No one messes around with fire. It consumes. Jerusalem was burnt down with looting at the time. Some of these vessels were spoils and gifts to David by some Kings; 2 Samuel 8:10-12.

Nebuchadnezzar, his father, took those vessels and kept them in the house of his gods. God allowed that to preserve the vessels as they were meant to be returned. King Cyrus took them back in Ezra 1:7-11. These vessels were made of pure gold and precious stones, and were not weighed because there were too many; 1 Kings 7:40-50. They were dedicated to God Almighty.

This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. Many people weigh 0.00 lb/ kg spiritually because they ate and drank from the Lord’s cup unworthily, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Some people mistakenly see this weight loss as trendy. How can one be weighed in a balance and found wanting? Sometimes, ‘It doesn’t matter’ may be ‘A dozen matters’. Well, the reasons are all around us:

Pride is a time bomb. The show-off will result in a showdown.
Profanity empties one of God’s grace. The consequences are grave.
When we have no respect and honour for the things of God, we will be finished.
Mocking and relegating God’s words, even in the slightest, is a sinkhole.
Familiarity and casualness towards God are forms of coastal erosion. The person’s life effortlessly falls into spiritual darkness.
Handling God’s work anyhow without fear and reverence is like wading in a storm-tossed sea.
Dealing deceitfully with the things of God, assuming He is a man and can be tricked. That is dangerous.
Challenging God’s authority over us can be very subtle, especially when we forget we are sand and clay, and that God can withdraw our breath at any time.
Defiling the house with immorality and uncleanness will make one a hollow wall.
Presumptuousness with the mind that we can get away with anything is snoring in sleep at the top of a mountain.

These actions call for deep reflection on our part. Look well and don’t assume the scale is faulty. The number on the scale might be real. Please do not exalt yourself above what you are. You will be emptied.

Remember, salvation is by grace. Please do not think He is in a far country and cannot catch us out. He is God Almighty. He sees everything. He knows every intent of man.