You probably remember the story of Belshazzar and his feast, found in Daniel 5. The Babylonian king is pretty much throwing himself a huge party, celebrating all his accomplishments, all his successes, all his victories, all his Belshazzar-ness. There's music, and eating, and drinking, and anyone who's anyone is there.
Except that, apparently, any recognition or acknowledgement of God is absent. But not for long.
As soon as the fingers of what appears to be a human hand become visible and begin to write on the wall Belshazzar's failures and his future, the tone of the room changes. Even the king's knees knocked together and his legs gave way. That sort of thing always puts a damper on a shindig.
That's the part we realize just from reading the biblical account. What we may not realize is this: in ancient times, middle eastern kings were fond of recounting their political and military accomplishments by displaying a record of them on the walls of their palace. It was sort of like a gallery or a mural of all their exploits and all their victories. Picture that in your mind. A few walls filled with the visual reminder of human triumph and world-wide fame. And then God writes over it all … your days are numbered … you've been found wanting … you'll lose your kingdom.
Chilling.
God is still in the business of writing over our accomplishments. And over our failures. Every sin, every mistake, every nasty word, every rotten attitude, every ungodly habit. They've all been written over by the hand of our gracious God, in the red letters of the blood of His Son, Jesus. And no matter what the enemy of your soul tries to tell you, it's indelible ink; permanent and profound in its simplicity. You know what it says, don't you?
Paid in full.
That's worth remembering when we're full of guilt, or full of ourselves. When we're focused on our failures or adding up our accomplishments. When the crowd says we're great, or the enemy says we ain't. Let it be our 3-word creed: Paid in full.
I hear the accuser roar
Of evils I have done.
I know them well, and even more;
Jehovah knoweth none.** from "I Hear the Accuser Roar" by Samuel Whitlock Gandy
--Click here for more inspiring from writer/arranger/director Marty Parks on the theology of worship and music ministry.