Our Innocency Can Set Us Free

Introduction

There are moments in life when doing the right thing does not prevent people from accusing us. Sometimes, you can be faithful and still be misunderstood. You can be honest and still be lied against. You can serve God sincerely and still find yourself surrounded by people who want to destroy your reputation.

Daniel experienced exactly this.

Daniel was a man who had distinguished himself in the kingdom. His excellence attracted attention, but unfortunately, it also attracted opposition. His enemies searched for something they could use against him, but they could find nothing corrupt in his character or conduct.

Daniel 6:4 says, "Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him."

When they could not find fault in Daniel's work, they attacked his devotion to God. They manipulated the king into signing a decree that prohibited anyone from praying to another god or man for thirty days.

Daniel knew the decree had been signed, but he continued to pray to God as he had always done.

His enemies caught him praying, reported him to the king, and Daniel was thrown into the lions' den.

Humanly speaking, it looked like Daniel was finished.

But God had the final word.

Daniel declared, "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths..."

Then he gave the reason: "Forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me."

Daniel's innocence did not mean that nobody accused him. It meant that God knew the truth about him.

And sometimes, your greatest defence is not what you can say about yourself, but what God knows about you.

1. Innocency does not mean you will never be accused

Daniel was innocent, yet he was accused.

This is an important lesson because many people become discouraged when they discover that doing good does not always prevent people from speaking against them.

Jesus Himself was falsely accused.

Joseph was falsely accused.

David was falsely accused.

Daniel was falsely accused.

Therefore, an accusation is not automatically proof of guilt.

There are times when people will misunderstand your intentions, misrepresent your actions or deliberately tell lies about you.

But do not allow false accusations to make you abandon righteousness.

You cannot control every accusation, but you can control your character.

Daniel did not change because his enemies were watching him. He remained faithful because his relationship with God was more important than his reputation before men.

If you live your life trying to make everybody believe that you are innocent, you may spend your entire life defending yourself.

But if you walk faithfully before God, there will come a time when God Himself will defend your cause.

2. Innocency is built when nobody is watching

Daniel's enemies examined his public life, but they also discovered something about his private life.

They knew Daniel prayed.

Daniel 6:10 says that when Daniel knew the decree had been signed, he went into his house, opened his windows towards Jerusalem, and prayed as he had done before.

That is powerful.

Daniel did not begin praying because there was a crisis. Prayer was already his lifestyle.

His public integrity was the product of his private relationship with God.

What you practise privately will eventually influence what people see publicly.

A person may deceive people for a while, but nobody can deceive God.

You can create an image before men, but God sees the heart.

Therefore, the question is not merely, "What do people think about me?"

The greater question is, "What does God know about me?"

Can God find innocence in your dealings?

Can God find honesty in your business?

Can God find purity in your relationships?

Can God find faithfulness in your service?

Can God find truth in your words?

Daniel's life teaches us that our greatest testimony should begin in the presence of God.

3. Innocency can become your defence in the day of trouble

Daniel did not escape the lions' den because the decree was cancelled.

He entered the lions' den.

The miracle happened inside the place of danger.

This is encouraging because sometimes God does not prevent you from entering a difficult situation. Instead, He enters the situation with you.

Daniel said, "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths."

The lions were present, but they could not destroy him.

The den was real, but the danger was restrained.

The enemies were real, but their plan failed.

Why?

Because God knew Daniel's heart.

There are situations where your innocence may not immediately prevent the attack, but it can preserve you in the middle of the attack.

The fact that you are in the lions' den does not mean the lions will have the final word.

God knows those who belong to Him.

When your heart is clean before God, you can stand confidently even when circumstances are against you.

4. Do not sacrifice your innocence to escape trouble

Daniel had a choice.

He could have stopped praying for thirty days and avoided the lions' den.

But Daniel understood that temporary safety was not worth compromising his relationship with God.

This is where many people fall.

They want God's protection, but they are unwilling to maintain God's principles.

They want to escape trouble, so they compromise.

They want to preserve their reputation, so they lie.

They want financial gain, so they become dishonest.

They want acceptance, so they abandon their convictions.

But Daniel teaches us something different.

Never exchange your integrity for temporary comfort.

The lions' den was dangerous, but Daniel's relationship with God was more valuable than his safety.

There are doors you should rather lose than enter through compromise.

There are opportunities you should rather reject than obtain through dishonesty.

There are relationships you should rather walk away from than maintain by abandoning your convictions.

Your integrity may cost you something today, but it can become your testimony tomorrow.

5. When your innocence is challenged, let God speak for you

Daniel did not fight his enemies with revenge.

He did not organise a counter-attack.

He did not spend the entire night trying to prove himself.

He trusted God.

And God proved him right.

When the king came to the lions' den in the morning, he discovered that Daniel was alive.

The same man they wanted dead became the evidence that their accusation was false.

This is the power of divine vindication.

Sometimes God will allow people to write a story about you, only for Him to rewrite the ending.

Your enemies may have the opportunity to accuse you, but they do not have the authority to determine your destiny.

When your conscience is clear before God, you do not have to fear every accusation.

God knows the truth.

God sees what people cannot see.

God knows the conversations you did not tell anybody about.

God knows the sacrifices you made in secret.

God knows the things you refused to do because you feared Him.

And when the time comes, God can bring your innocence to light.

Conclusion

Daniel's story teaches us that innocence is not weakness.

Innocence is strength when it is rooted in God.

Daniel could stand in the lions' den because he had already learned how to stand before God.

His enemies could accuse him, but they could not corrupt his character.

The king could sign a decree, but he could not stop God from protecting His servant.

The lions could surround Daniel, but they could not touch him.

Why?

"Forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me."

Beloved, let your life be such that when men investigate you, they may find imperfections, but let them not find deliberate wickedness.

Let your heart be clean.

Let your hands be clean.

Let your dealings be honest.

Let your words be truthful.

Let your private life agree with your public testimony.

Because there will be moments when you cannot defend yourself.

There will be moments when people misunderstand you.

There will be moments when your name is mentioned in places where you are not present.

There will be moments when false accusations rise against you.

When those moments come, may God be able to say concerning you:

"Innocency was found in him."

And when God finds innocence in you, your enemies may put you in the lions' den, but they cannot make the lions eat you.