Gold

 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3:1 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/dan.3.1.ESV

King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire was quite possibly the most powerful man the world has ever seen. He was worshipped as a god, and ruled as an absolute monarch. Clearly, he was also one of the most vain men to ever live, as this verse about an epic vanity project suggests.

Nebuchadnezzar had had a dream about a statue with feet of clay, which Daniel had interpreted as being about some of the key Empires of human history- from Babylon and Medo-Persia, to the Greco-Roman Empires. Nebuchadnezzar in the dream was the statue's golden head. He clearly wasn't satisfied with this image however.

The Empires of this world have feet of clay, and will ultimately be toppled by the Kingdom of God. Nebuchadnezzar rebelled against this vision however. He liked to delude himself that his kingdom was everlasting, ever golden.

The Empires of this world tend to absolutise themselves, make themselves out to be the be all and end all. In reality however, God and His Kingdom are the only everlasting organisations of humanity, everything else will fall into oblivion. We need to make sure we acknowledge that Jesus is King of ourselves, and refuse to bow to false beliefs, however prevalent they may be.

'Sovereign God, we acknowledge You as the King of an everlasting Kingdom. Whatever polities we find ourselves to be part of, may our ultimate loyalties lie with You. For the honour of Your name, amen'

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