1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好。
2. Thank you very much for tuning in to this broadcast.
谢谢你收听今天的节目。
3. We are in the middle of a series of messages we are calling “Standing Firm in a World of Shifting Sands,”
“在流沙的世界里要站立得稳”，我们现在正在这个系列信息的中间部分。
4. and I want to begin this message by making a personal confession.
首先，我要做一个个人的告白。
5. I find that there is no more discouraging and frustrating thing for me than unfinished tasks.
我发现，没有什么比未完成的工作，更让我沮丧和泄气的了。
6. I can’t stand an unfinished anything.
我不能忍受任何没有完成的东西。
7. I will do whatever it takes to finish whatever I started.
我会尽一切可能，去完成我已经开始的事情。
8. For me, there is nothing more tragic than the unfinished painting or unfinished symphony,
对我而言，最悲惨的莫过于未完成的绘画和交响乐了，
9. or half-built house,
或者建了一半的房子，
10. or incomplete manuscript.
或者没写完的书稿。
11. These are all reminders to me that we all have the inclination to stop working on projects before we have completed them;
这些都会提醒我，我们所有人都有一个倾向，总是在事情没有完成之前就想停下来；
12. and that is why finishing well is one of my top priorities in life.
因此，如何贯彻始终成了我人生中最关注的事情之一。
13. I have seen people start a venture with a great deal of enthusiasm, but, soon, they lose interest.
我常常看到，人们充满激情地开始了一段人生的探险，但很快他们就失去了兴趣。
14. I have seen new Christians begin their Christian life with zeal and passion, then soon, they lose heart.
我常常看到，新基督徒在基督徒生活的初期充满了热心和激情，但很快他们的心就冷淡了下去。
15. I have seen members join a church with excitement and commitment, then soon, their commitment gives way to apathy.
我常常看到，人们成为教会会友的时候充满了兴奋和决心，但很快他们的委身就冷淡了下去。
16. I have seen people make all sorts of promises, but soon, they forget them;
我常常看到，人们许各式各样的愿，但很快他们就忘得一乾二净；
17. and we saw together that Daniel and his friends began their testimony and their stand for God as teenagers.
我们看到，但以理和他的朋友们还是青少年的时候，就已开始为神做见证，为神持守真道了。
18. Daniel and his three friends took their stand when they were young boys;
但以理和他的三个朋友在青少年时，就已坚守自己的岗位了；
19. and we all stand in awe of their commitment and faithful devotion to God;
而我们所有人都十分敬佩，他们向神的忠心和委身；
20. but it is one thing to be enthusiastic and fearless when you are a young Christian,
但是，当你还是一个年轻基督徒的时候，充满热情并无所畏惧是一回事，
21. and it’s another matter altogether to be enthusiastic and fearless as an older Christian.
而当你年老的时候，还能够充满热情并无所畏惧，就是另一回事了。
22. It is one thing to be committed to Christ when you are struggling in life,
当你处于生命挣扎的时候，对基督忠心是一回事，
23. and it is another thing altogether for Jesus to be your All-in-All when you are not in need of anything.
而当你没有任何需求的时候，还能够把耶稣当作你的全部，又是另一回事了。
24. Daniel, Chapter 6, is, without a doubt, the most well-known Chapter in the whole Bible.
毫无疑问，但以理书第6章，是整本圣经中最著名的一章经文。
25. Daniel in the den of lions has been the subject of books and paintings and inspirational stories;
但以理被投狮子坑的情景已成为许多书籍、绘画和鼓舞人心的故事的主题；
26. but what most people miss out on this Chapter is the fact that Daniel finished well.
但很多人在这一章中漏掉了一个事实，那就是但以理做到了贯彻始终。
27. At the age of 14, he told the King of Babylon that he would not eat the food that he had been offered to idols;
在14岁的时候，他告诉巴比伦王，他绝不会去吃献给偶像的祭物；
28. and 65 years later, at the age of 79, he tells the King of Persia that he will not worship any other God but the true God.
在65年后，他79岁的时候，告诉波斯王，除了真神以外，他绝不会去敬拜别神。
29. If you look at Daniel, Chapter 6, you will find three things that are required to finish well.
查考但以理书第6章，你会发现，必须做到以下三点才能贯彻始终。
30. The first is being alert to the persistent temptation, and you find that in verses 1 to 9.
首先，要对不断的诱惑保持警惕，你可以在1到9节中看到这一点；
31. The second is being anchored to the past testimony, and we find that in verses 10 to 17;
第二，要持守以往的见证，我们可以在10到17节中看到这一点；
32. and the third is being assured of the promised triumph, verses 18 to 28.
第三，要坚信神所应许的胜利，在18到28节中看到这一点。
33. To finish well, you must always be on your guard against temptation.
要贯彻始终，你必须常常对诱惑保持警惕。
34. In Daniel’s case, he could have said, “I have survived King Nebuchadnezzar.
对但以理而言，他可以说：“我通过了尼布甲尼撒王这一关，
35. I have survived King Belshazzar,
我也通过了伯沙撒王这一关，
36. I have survived more than 60 years of pressure and temptation.
我通过了六十多年压力和诱惑的考验，
37. I can surely now survive King Darius.”
我肯定也能通过大利乌王这一关。”
38. Daniel rightfully and naturally could have said to himself, “I have withstood temptation since the age of fourteen...”
但以理完全有资格、而且可以自然地对自己说：“我从14岁开始，就抵御诱惑……”
39. but Daniel knew that the tempter is always working at any age;
然而，但以理知道在每个年龄阶段都有诱惑；
40. so, at this point in time, Daniel’s colleagues and staff became an instrument of Satan’s scheme.
在此时，但以理的同僚和下属成了执行撒但阴谋的工具。
41. They came to the King with words of flattery, and the King fell for it, and the trap was set.
他们来到王面前谄媚，王中计了，陷阱设好了。
42. Had the King been wise, he would have discerned this plot immediately;
如果王有智慧，他就会立刻识破这个阴谋；
43. but flattery has a marvelous effect on people.
但是阿谀奉承的话语对人们有着极大的影响力。
44. Flattery boosts a person’s pride.
奉承话可以让一个人的骄傲膨胀。
45. These plotting politicians said, “King, make a law that can never be broken.”
这些阴险的政客们说：“王啊，请立一条不可更改的禁令。”
46. What was that new law that they wanted the King to enact?
他们想要王颁布的新禁令是什么呢？
47. It was that, for thirty days, no one could worship any other god except the King;
那就是，在30天内，任何人都不能敬拜除王以外的任何神；
48. and, once that royal law was signed, it could never be changed.
一旦签署了这个效忠国王的法律，它就不可更改。
49. This temptation had placed Daniel in a predicament.
这个试探将但以理置于困境。
50. Should he miss worship for thirty days?
他应该中断敬拜三十天吗？
51. Should he miss his daily worship just for thirty days?
他是否该中断自己每日的敬拜？只需要停止三十天而已。
52. Should he stop being in fellowship with God just for thirty days?
他应该中断自己与神的交通吗？只不过是三十天罢了。
53. Oh, what a temptation!
这是何等大的试探！
54. You see, the devil seldom tempts the faithful to permanently cease to be faithful at once;
你明白吗？魔鬼很少引诱忠心的信徒，立刻就不再对神忠心；
55. but the devil will tempt us to be unfaithful just for a few hours, or few days, or few weeks.
魔鬼会引诱我们只是在几小时，几天或几周的时间里对神不忠心。
56. Why?
为什么呢？
57. Because he knows that the first step toward unfaithfulness to God is the easiest for us;
因为它知道，对我们而言，很轻易就会迈出对神不忠心的第一步；
58. but, to finish well, you need to be alert to the persistent temptation, no matter how old you are.
但要贯彻始终，你就必须对不断的诱惑保持警惕，不管年岁有多大。
59. Secondly, to finish well, you need to be anchored in the past testimony.
第二，要贯彻始终，你必须持守以往的见证，
60. You’ll find that in verses 10 to 17 of Daniel, Chapter 6.
你可以在但以理书，第6章10到17节中看到这一点。
61. Now, what do I mean by that?
我的意思是什么呢？
62. If I were in Daniel’s place, most likely, I would have panicked.
如果我处在但以理的位置，很有可能，我已惊慌失措了。
63. I would have gone to the King and said, “These guys tricked you in order to sabotage me.
我可能已跑去对王说：“这些家伙欺骗你，妄图暗中陷害我。
64. Oh, King, you know how faithful I am!
王啊，你知道我多么忠心！
65. Oh, King, you know how I have stayed out of trouble...”
王啊，你知道我多么努力地避免麻烦……”
66. and I think that’s what most of us would have done;
我想大多数人都会这样做；
67. but not Daniel.
可但以理没有。
68. He went home and he continued his usual schedule, as if nothing had happened.
他回到自己家里，继续按他的日常安排做，好像什么也没有发生一样。
69. He was unshakable.
他是不可动摇的。
70. Do you know why?
你知道为什么吗？
71. Because he was anchored in his past testimony.
那是因为他持守以往的见证。
72. He was affirmed by God’s past interventions in his life.
神在他生命中以往的作为，令他折服。
73. He was trusting in his past experience with God.
他因自己过去与神相处的经历而信靠神。
74. My listening friend, do you know what the problem with all of us is, especially when we face a trial in life?
亲爱的朋友，你知道，特别是在生活中面临考验的时候，我们的问题是什么吗？
75. We forget God’s past interventions in our lives;
我们忘记了以往神在我们生命中的作为；
76. so, instead of saying, “Back yonder, God did this and did that, and He will do it again,”
因此，我们不会说：“回想过去，神做了这个，做了那个，祂如今还会再做，”
77. we panic and we say, “Oh, yes, He did it back then, but I doubt that He will do it again.”
而是惊慌失措地说：“是的，祂以前做过，但我怀疑祂还会再这么做。”
78. Daniel’s strength was that he had learned to trust in God’s past interventions as evidence that God will do it again.
但以理的力量来源于，他学会了信靠神以往的作为，把它当作神还会再做的凭据。
79. Daniel’s strength was that he had developed confidence in his God’s power;
但以理的力量来源于，他已对神的大能充满了信心；
80. and nothing could shake his faith.
没有什么能够动摇他的信仰。
81. Daniel’s strength was that, for over 65 years, he was able to say “No” to sin;
但以理的力量来源于，他能够在65年多的时间里拒绝罪；
82. and every time he said “No” to sin, the power of God grew deeper inside of him.
每一次他拒绝罪的时候，神的能力就在他内心深处增长。
83. My listening friend, please listen carefully to what I’m going to tell you.
亲爱的朋友，请留心听我下面所讲的。
84. The more faithful you are to God, the more of God’s power you will receive;
你对神越忠心，就能从神那里得到更大的能力；
85. but every time you give in to sin and disobedience, you weaken your spiritual resistance.
但每一次你向罪投降，不顺服神，你就会减弱属灵的抵抗力。
86. My listening friend, I want to tell you something of uttermost importance.
亲爱的朋友，我要告诉你极为重要的一点。
87. The real den of lions was in Daniel’s prayer closet,
真正的狮子坑，其实是在但以理的祷告内室中，
88. for it was in his prayer closet that Daniel had learnt that he would rather lose his life than lose his testimony;
因为正是在祷告内室中，但以理明白了，他宁愿丢掉生命也不想失去见证；
89. and, if you had said to Daniel, “Daniel, it’s only for thirty days.”
如果你对但以理说：“但以理，只不过三十天而已。”
90. He would have said to you, “Not even for thirty seconds will I abandon my faith.”
他会告诉你：“连30秒我都不会放弃自己的信仰。”
91. You may have said, “Daniel, now you are rich. Now, you are at the height of your career. Why risk everything just for thirty days of compromise?”
你也许会说：“但以理，你现在富裕了，又处在事业的高峰，为何不妥协三十天而要冒险失去所有的呢？”
92. But not Daniel.
可是但以理没有妥协。
93. Every faithful believer understands this fact:
每一个忠心的信徒都明白这个事实；
94. that your prayer closet is your war room.
你的祷告内室就是你争战的地方。
95. You win or lose in your war room before you get into the battlefield;
你进入战场之前，输赢在这里就已经定了；
96. and, when Daniel prayed, he prayed toward Jerusalem.
但以理祷告的时候，他向着耶路撒冷祷告。
97. Why is that?
为什么要这样呢？
98. That was the city of promise.
因为那是应许之城。
99. God told Jeremiah that His people will go into exile for 70 years, then they will return;
神告诉耶利米，祂的百姓将被掳七十年，然后他们要回来；
100. and Daniel knew that the time for God’s fulfillment of His promise was drawing near;
但以理知道，神实现祂应许的时间临近了；
101. so, by facing Jerusalem, Daniel was kneeling on the promises of God;
因此，但以理面向耶路撒冷，他是跪在神的应许上祷告的；
102. and, so, finishing well means that you are, first, alert to the temptation.
贯彻始终，意味着，首先你要对诱惑保持警惕。
103. Secondly, anchored in your testimony.
第二，要持守以往的见证。
104. Thirdly, assured of the triumphant promise.
第三，要坚信神所应许的胜利。
105. Let us look at verses 18 to 28 of Daniel, Chapter 6.
让我们一起来看但以理书第6章18到28节。
106. I don’t want you to miss verse 18, because it’s really hilarious.
请留意第18节，因为这是非常有趣的一节经文。
107. Who is the one who spent a restless and sleepless night?
是谁烦躁不安，整夜失眠呢？
108. It was not Daniel.
不是但以理。
109. It was the King who was the sleepless one.
王才是那个睡不着觉的人。
110. As soon as Daniel was lowered into the den of lions, these lions went into special formation.
但以理被放到狮子坑的时候，这些狮子组成了一个特殊的形状。
111. These lions made a beautiful, soft mattress for Daniel to sleep on;
这些狮子组成了一张美丽而柔软的床垫，来供但以理安睡；
112. and Daniel went to sleep like a baby on the straw among the lions.
但以理就像睡在草垫上的婴孩一样，安睡在狮子中间。
113. Meanwhile, the King in his fancy bed was tossing and turning.
与此同时，王却在自己华丽的床上辗转难眠。
114. God promised victory and triumph to His faithful servants and God isn’t going to go back on His promises;
神已向祂忠心的仆人承诺过胜利，祂就不会收回应许；
115. but notice I said, “…His faithful servants?”
请注意我的用词：“祂忠心的仆人们？”
116. Why?
为什么？
117. Why didn’t He just promise victory to everyone?
为什么神不是对所有人都应许要得胜呢？
118. Oh, because, often, we want triumph and victory without being faithful.
因为我们常常想，不必对神忠心，就可得胜。
119. We often want blessings without meeting the conditions of the blessing;
我们常常希望不必达到赐福的条件，就可以蒙福；
120. and we see how, once again, God delivers His faithful servant, not out of trouble, but in the midst of trouble.
我们再一次看到，神不是将祂忠心的仆人带出困境，而是放到困境之中。
121. Let me tell you this, my listening friend,
亲爱的朋友，我想告诉你：
122. I would rather be a child of faith in a den of lions than a king in the grandest palace without faith;
我宁愿是狮子坑里那个有信心的孩子，而不愿作王宫中那个没信心的国王；
123. so the King could not wait till morning light to run down the road to where the lion’s den was;
所以，王等不到天亮，就急忙奔向狮子坑旁；
124. and, there, he broke the seal and opened the door of the den, thinking that his friend, Daniel, would be dead;
他一边撕开封条，打开门，一边心想，他的朋友但以理，应该已经死了；
125. but he discovered that the den was not Daniel’s tomb. It was Daniel’s tabernacle.
但他发现狮子坑不是但以理的坟墓，它只不过是但以理的帐篷。
126. The power of God that would later raise Jesus Christ from the dead was that same power that kept Daniel from being devoured by hungry lions.
后来让耶稣基督从死里复活的神的大能，同样也让但以理免遭饥饿的狮子吞吃。
127. The God who gave Jesus power over death gave Daniel power over the angels of death;
父神给耶稣能力胜过死亡，也赐给但以理能力战胜死神；
128. and, so, I end where I began, my listening friend.
亲爱的朋友，在结束的时候，我回到开始所说的，
129. Finishing well,
贯彻始终，
130. finishing with greater power,
靠着神的大能持守到底，
131. finishing with greater strength, requires only one thing:
靠着神的力量持守到底，只需做到一点：就是
132. faithfulness.
忠心。
133. It is my prayer that you would be a faithful servant of the living God.
我祈求，你能够成为永生神忠心的仆人。
134. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，下次节目再会。
