1. “…and they did not love their lives to the death” Revelation 12:11
a. Heb 11:39 – “And all these having obtained a good testimony through faith…”
b. Rev 12:11 – “and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
c. I see in these two instances a choice that was made. This decision was not based on the physical, the now, it was based upon the unseen and that which was to come. These are held up to us as examples because they chose suffering when they could have chosen not to suffer.

2. Choosing the Lions Daniel 6 I. Introduction
A. Some have said that our lives are merely a compilation of the choices that we make. It seems to me that there is some truth to that statement. There can surely be no doubt that the choices we make in this life have monumental and eternal consequences, at least as they pertain to our individual souls.
1. I sometimes wonder if we truly appreciated the gravity of the choices that we make.
B. The Bible is full of examples of people that made choices that I have to wonder if many of us today would make
1. It seems that our decision making tends to be somewhat self involved. We have a tendency to base our decision making on the physical; geared toward comfort and enriching this life, perhaps with little thought to the one to come

3. I. Introduction
A. Some have said that our lives are merely a compilation of the choices that we make. It seems to me that there is some truth to that statement. There can surely be no doubt that the choices we make in this life have monumental and eternal consequences, at least as they pertain to our individual souls.
1. I sometimes wonder if we truly appreciated the gravity of the choices that we make.
B. The Bible is full of examples of people that made choices that I have to wonder if many of us today would make
1. It seems that our decision making tends to be somewhat self involved. We have a tendency to base our decision making on the physical; geared toward comfort and enriching this life, perhaps with little thought to the one to come

4. Choosing the Lions The Setting
Daniel was part of a group of captives assigned to the King’s court
Daniel spent most of his life in this captivity
By the time of Chapter 6, Daniel was a wise elder statesman of great faith

5. Choosing the Lions The Plot Against Daniel
The Devil will use your faith against you (Dan 6:3-8)
Great faith often leads to difficult decisions. (Heb 11)
We must count the cost and be prepared to pay (Luke 14:26-33)
Faith is a shield, but at the same time our faith identifies us as a target
We must understand that the price of discipleship is high, the path is difficult

6. Choosing the Lions Daniel’s Choice His choice was deliberate
Daniel’s concern was for the entire nation
Nothing indicates that Daniel knew he would live (Dan 3:15-18)

7. Choosing the Lions Daniel’s Choice
Daniel’s choice was made long before the decree was signed
This choice was a product of who Daniel was

8. How Could He Make this Choice
Choosing the Lions
How Could He Make this Choice
Daniel was a righteous man
Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself

9. How Could He Make this Choice
Choosing the Lions
How Could He Make this Choice
Daniel trusted the Lord
This trust was not in God’s intervention in the particulars of his life
His trust was in God’s revealed plan
He had developed a deep courage