King Nebuchadnezzar was full of himself. Fickle in the sense that he praised Daniel’s king when Daniel was able to supply the dream and its interpretation. “The king said to Daniel, ‘surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery’.” – Daniel 2:47 But in a matter of years, the king seems to have forgotten the mighty God of Daniel because now he has made a golden image for his people to bow down to and worship. He has proclaimed himself as the god and unite his kingdom in worship.
So, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to the golden image and denounce their own God, they are brought before the king to answer for the actions. Now they know the punishment is to go immediately into the fiery furnace. “And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” – Daniel 3:15 Nebuchadnezzar asked them point blank.
How quickly we forget the one who builds us up when faced with some praise. It’s easy to fall into the snare that trips us up when others are clamoring about how great we do. Who doesn’t like to be praised for what they do?
But think about the boys now. They have to answer to the king. If they tell him they will bow down to him, they can save themselves from the fiery furnace, but they would be denouncing their God who has proclaimed himself a jealous god! Neither choice is one that any of us would want to face. Could you choose the fiery furnace?
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in the matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of you hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”” – Daniel 3:16-18
Do you have what it takes to stand up in the face of adversity and proclaim your allegiance to the one and only God, the creator of all things? I would hope that I do. I’m not under fire right now, but many missionaries and martyrs have done just that. What would a life be worth that denounces God? I can’t see any good that would come out of that scenario. The fiery furnace or a fiery hell, I think I choose the fiery furnace! God chooses not to save me from the fire, I’d be in heaven with him, right? I guess its all in perspective.
The takeaway from Jon’s sermon today:
1. Your foundation has to be bigger than your idol. Build faith through consistent obedience.
2. Eventually you will be known for who you consistently are. Our true colors eventually come out. You can’t be a poser for long.
3. You will be identified by who you serve. We all serve somebody.
We all deal with tough times and we all sin and make mistakes. God knows this. But, that doesn’t give us a license to keep sinning. Choose to walk the path that leads you to the god who will deliver you!
Be in the word daily, pray, if you don’t have a church that you can connect with others who are supportive in your journey, find one! I have seen people who have struggled through illness, addiction, job loss, death of a loved one who have been held up by their church family. I can’t imagine being without mine.
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 