Psychologists tell us that we are primarily products of our environment. We take in all the activity and lifestyles around us and simply emulate it. If our upbringing was in a safe and loving setting, where love was demonstrated freely, we will likely be similar as we grow up. Adversely, if we constantly were abused, and subjected to evil, we faced a high probability of an evil outcome. Though our environments play a significant role in shaping our character and worldview, the Word of God gives us no excuse for becoming evil just because we were surrounded by it.

I am impressed with the story of Daniel in the Bible. Even as a young man, Daniel demonstrated incredible character and excellence in his behavior. So well-mannered and temperate was he, that even when captured and taken to Babylon, he caught the attention of his captors. Daniel is an amazing story of a highly dedicated man of God. His testimony was felt throughout the kingdom of Babylon. Even the great king of the known world at the time was amazed at Daniel’s competence and dependence upon his God.

One thing that stands out making Daniel’s story even more impressive, is the environment in which he grew up. We know nothing about his upbringing except that the nation of Judah couldn’t have been more wicked, and they were being led by a wicked king. Jehoiakim was the currently reigning king of Judah, one of a long line of mostly wicked kings who led the nation in idolatry and every form of wickedness.

God had had enough of Judah’s blatant disregard for their God, and it was time for them to face judgment. God stirred the heart of the great king, Nebuchadnezzar, and Judah was defeated and deported in three massive sieges. Daniel was one of the captives carried from his homeland to a heathen environment where Jehovah God was unknown.

Daniel 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

Jehoiakim and his ungodly nation didn’t stand a chance against the Babylonian forces; not because they were greatly out-numbered and over-powered, but because God had given them up, and they were defenseless against their wicked oppressors.

Daniel seems like such a small, insignificant player in all that was happening. However, God had great plans. Judah may have given up on their God, but not Daniel. He was mighty in his walk with his God, and the Almighty was just about to use him in powerfully miraculous ways.

So great would be the outcome of God’s power through Daniel, the great king Nebuchadnezzar would eventually give praise to Daniel’s God, calling Him the Most High God.

What is far more important than our environment is our heart’s condition. God is looking for hearts completely dedicated to Him. He can find them anywhere, no matter what the environment.