4/29/2016 0 Comments Even if He Doesn't....Just for a moment, picture yourself in a distant land. It's not your home; no, you were ripped from your home many years ago, by people that literally took over the entire country you lived in. Still, you've got a good thing going so far. You've moved up the ranks so well that you and two of your closest friends are trusted advisers of the king. Sadly, you had a disagreement with him and his laws, and you and your friends have now found yourselves in danger of execution.
Most Christians (and those who grew up watching the first VeggieTales episodes) know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Fiery furnace, rescued by God, everybody celebrates and worships Yaweh instead of a ridiculous statue of the egotistical King Nebuchadnezzar. Most know the story of their bravery, their divine rescue, and their faith. But for the life of me, I can barely recall any mention of four words in their final speech before being thrown in the flames. Check it out: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. But even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.'" (Daniel 3:16-18) Did you catch that? "Even if He doesn't...we won't kneel." Even if He doesn't. I remember praying multiple times, "God, if you would just do this one thing, I promise to...." I've done that to my parents, too. I think that everyone has done something like this. Maybe not out loud, but perhaps we slouch in work because we didn't get the promotion or raise we wanted. Or a significant other gets shunned for the day on account of an argument (later discovered as not that big of a deal). Whatever it is, you've already made your comparison in your own life; to list out the rest here is just a waste of my brain power. But we make that kind of ultimatum all the time, don't we? Shadrach and friends didn't have that issue. Their resolve was so great that even if they were burnt to an absolute crisp, they were happy with their decision. It was completely possible that God would not rescue them from that fire. The cause and purpose, but more, the God they believed in was worth risking the very real chance of death. I recently had asked God for something I had deeply longed for, and these past few weeks, I believed He had placed it within my grasp. The opportunities were too coincidental for it to be an actual coincidence, and everything eventually hinged on one moment. For days I waited, praying for the follow-through to swing in my favor. But once again I found myself drawn to that passage. And so I told God that I knew He could make this event happen for me. But, even if He didn't, I would remain steadfast. I would remain faithful. I would remain thankful, even, for His plan that I can't even begin to fathom from this point of view. Spoiler alert: the ending did not result in my favor. At least, not my immediate favor. Though disappointed, I kept my promise. God could've made it happen. Alas, He did not. Sometimes it is just because He allows life to get in the way, but other times it's because He has something better for us. Something we can't imagine having, or even that we wanted it, because only He knows, for the moment. Even funnier to me is that God could've stepped in anytime before they were thrown in. He could have shown up while the king was arguing with them and been like, "So. I heard you've got a statue. That's cool. The whole Earth is My footstool. Hey, you know what's on Earth? Your statue." Instead, He let's them get thrown in this raging furnace so hot that being even near it kills people. Sometimes God lets us go through the fire. But we're not there alone, even when we think we are. Not only did Shadrach and his compatriots have each other, but God took it upon Himself to go in the fire with them. Just like now, whatever fire you feel like you've been thrown into---even one you didn't ask for nor deserve---God is in the fire with you. I wonder if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego felt the heat of the furnace. The Bible tells us that they weren't burned, and didn't even smell of smoke. But I wonder if they felt the heat, even just a little bit. Or maybe, they were focused on what God was saying to them. He didn't even take them out right away. He let all their accusers and oppressors see them in the fire alive, with Him. Eventually, whatever it is you're going through, that fire that God has not spared you from, you can still allow God to grow you, to burn away the impurities and come forth like gold. He can take your situation and use it to help you grow stronger in Him, and everyone that helped turn that furnace hotter will see that not only was God faithful (as He always is)...but so were you. I pray that no matter what comes my way, be it fire, foes, fear, or failure, that I can look at whatever obstacle or opposition it is and say, "Even if He doesn't...I won't kneel to this."
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Victor Sassano IIIAuthor of the Why You Suck Series. Adventurer. Warrior-Poet. Superhero enthusiast. Servant-Leader. Archives
March 2018
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