The Bible tells us that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of ancient Babylon, erected a magnificent golden image in the shape of a man. And, he instructed that whenever people heard the sound of certain music, they were to fall down and worship the image. If anyone were to disobey, they would be put to death. Interestingly, the image was reported to be sixty cubits high and six cubits wide (Daniel chapter 3). Six, if you recall, is the biblical number of man. God created man on the sixth day.

In the book of Revelation we read:

And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six (Revelation 13:16-18 New American Standard Version).

In Hebrews we read:

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:9-11).

Friends, here is our choice. We can either place our faith in the works of man, or we can place our faith in God. Man was created on the sixth day, on the seventh God rested. And, the writer of Hebrews tells us, instead of trusting in the works of our own hands, we are invited to enter into God's rest. If we refuse, we also will fall as those did who refused God in the wilderness.

The writer goes on to say:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 

And, after providing many examples from Scripture, the writer says:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Very soon now, I believe the world will once again be facing a clear choice. It will be between man and God. The Bible tells us that when young Daniel was taken into the Babylonian king's court, Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's food or wine. Friends, as we enter into the final days of end-time prophecy, that's what we need to be doing.

The time to prepare spiritually is now.