Focal passage: Daniel 1:3-5; 8-13; 17-19
According to Dictionary.com, the term conviction means a fixed or firm belief. I like to think of conviction as a firm belief that will empower you to stay the course regardless of the danger involved.
As we have seen in our lesson this week, Daniel’s conviction compelled him to stay the course and not eat the king’s food.
God has also given us other examples of people who had strong convictions. One in particular was a man named, Henry “Box” Brown who was born into slavery in Virginia during the 19th century.
In 1848, while living in Virginia, Brown’s master sold Henry’s wife and three children to a plantation in North Carolina. After this tremendous loss, Brown was determined to go to a place where slavery had been abolished. Through the help of a friend and fellow church member, Brown devised a plan to ship himself to Philadelphia.
Taking money from his savings, Brown paid $86 to be shipped in a box 3 feet long, 2 feet 8 inches deep and 2 feet wide. One source stated that “Brown’s box was transported by wagon, railroad, steamboat, wagon again, railroad, ferry, railroad and finally delivery wagon, being completed in 27 hours.
Despite the instructions on the box of “handle with care” and “this side up,” several times carriers placed the box upside-down or handled it roughly. Brown remained still and avoided detection.”
When Brown arrived at his destination, one of the men remembered Brown’s first words as, “How do you do gentlemen?” and following those words he began to a sing a Psalm from the Bible.
When I think of Brown’s experience, I cannot help but to believe how difficult it was to stay inside that box. Being turned upside down and tossed around for 27 hours must have been extremely painful.
However, because Brown believed that he would be free, he did not allow pain or the threat of death to destroy his victory. How about you? Would you be willing to suffer for what you believe?