South By Southwest

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nlike my parents, I have always known the luxury of having a television in our home.  For as long as I can remember, television played, and continues to play, an important part in my life.  I was five years old when Neil Armstrong took his famous steps on the lunar surface and I was right there in front of the television to watch it all.

In those days, cable television was a dream in someone’s imagination.  All the television sets had aerial antennas for reception.  The antenna was controlled by a box that sat on top of the television.  This box had a directional dial that was used to change the orientation of the antenna to improve reception for a clearer picture.  I can still hear the hum as the drive motor kicked in and I can still see our old television screen changing as the image came more and more into focus.

We received our signal from Charlotte, located to the east.  In order to get a perfect picture, the antenna needed to point southeast to pick up the signal. On more than one occasion, I can remember my mom or my dad standing beside the television while the other one gave directions until the picture was just right.  Sometimes, just a fraction of a degree was all that was necessary to improve the picture; at other times, it was necessary to run through every direction until the signal came in strong.  But it didn’t matter whether the antenna needed to be moved a little or a lot, one thing was certain:  unless the antenna was pointed in the right direction, there would be no signal and that meant the television couldn’t function properly.

The prophet Daniel understood the importance of receiving a strong signal.  He also understood that turning his heart toward God was the only way that his life would function properly.  Let’s take a look at an interesting piece of scripture and understand more about this man named Daniel.

In Daniel 6:10 we read: “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel was exiled from his home and lived under the reign of King Darius.  Darius issued a decree that anyone praying to any god or man other than the king would be thrown into the lions’ den.

For the Jewish people, the Temple in Jerusalem marked the place where God dwelled.  When Daniel prayed, he faced Jerusalem, lining himself up with the Temple and praying to God.  From his location, Daniel would have looked southwest in order to face the Temple.  He did this three times a day despite the edict issued by Darius.  Although conditions were less than perfect and not at all safe, Daniel continued to turn the spiritual antenna of his life toward God, receiving a strong signal from his Heavenly father that enabled him to walk and live in a way pleasing to God.

How is the reception working in your life?  Are you able to receive a strong signal because your heart and your mind are turned toward God?  Is your life oriented in such a way as to receive God’s direction and will for your life?  Can others look at the screen of your life and receive a clear picture of the Lord because you are lined up with Him?  If not, perhaps it is time you turned the dial and adjusted the spiritual antenna of your life.  It must be facing in the right direction in order to line up with God.  How about making the necessary adjustment today?