Mene Mene Tekel Parsin
I was reading through Daniel 5 today.
In the story, a hand comes down out of nowhere during a feast that the King of Babylon is having, and starts writing on the wall. Daniel is called to interpret the words, which he does:
- Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
- Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
- Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
And that very night, the Medes and Persians invade, and King Belshazzar is slain.
The writing on the wall is a warning. The words are an affirmation that God is in control, that we will all die, and that we will all be weighed on God's scales and found wanting - and none of the things we have stored up for ourselves in this life will be able to save us from that.
In fact, Jesus says exactly the same thing in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21):
"God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'"
As I thought about being weighed on God's scales, I realised that I am in no way ready to bring an account for the things I've said and done, or failed to do. And while I know that by the blood of Jesus I am saved from God's wrath (praise God!), I know that I will still be weighed, and called to account for my actions (Rom 14:12, Heb 4:13).
And so, like the Babylonians, I too need to see the writing on the wall, and take heed. So often I forget that how I live now matters. I see the grace, I embrace the forgiveness, but I forget that it all came at such a cost.
Mene - Know that God has numbered your days.
Tekel - Remember that on God's scales you will be found wanting.
Peres - Forget the things of this world, for you can't take them with you.
Do these things, and I guarantee, you will see the true wonder of the cross.