Still the Same

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Daniel 3:16-18

The past month I have been studying the major prophets in the Bible. I have been astounded at their faith and their courage. I want to be as brave and as willing to follow God, no matter where He leads or what He commands. These men suffered greatly-physically and emotionally and sacrificed everything at times for the One who had sent them. A favorite story of mine, is about the three men mentioned above. The great and mighty King Nebuchadnezzar had made a statue nine feet wide and ninety feet tall and commanded everyone in his kingdom to bow before it whenever he played the "signal", which was made up of music. Imagine how eerie that must have sounded and been to watch if you were a follower of the One True God. The music sounds and everyone, everywhere stops what they were doing, no matter how important or mundane, to bow before this image. The penalty for not following the command was death by a burning furnace. Not my idea of a fun way to go! Some of the kings messengers saw that these three men did not bow at the signal. When they told the king, he was furious! The king decided to be nice-he'd give Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego one more chance to bow before the image before he killed them; yet, they didn't need one more chance, their minds were made up. They knew that no matter how powerful and mighty this great king was-their God was so much more powerful and mightier. God never said He would save them, He never said that He was going to use these men of faith to open the kings eyes to the One True God. All Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew, was that they could not and would not bow before anything that was less than their God. They were willing to die than to obey such an order. I love how they acknowledge God's mighty power to save them, but said that even if it wasn't His will to save their lives, they still would not bow down to the kings golden idol. What faith that is!

The end of the story, as most of you know, is the king was so furious at them that he made the furnace seven times hotter than normal. It was so hot that it killed the strong soldiers when they put Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the furnace! After they were thrown in the furnace, the king was astounded to see not three men walking around-but four. An angel of the Lord was with them in those hot flames. When the king called them to come out, there was not a burn mark on their robes or bodies, a singed hair on their heads and most impressive of all, they didn't even smell like smoke! What a miracle! The king promoted them and made a decree that everyone in the kingdom must follow their God!

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stepped out on faith and God met them where they were. What has He called you to do, but fear has kept you from obeying? There are so many unknowns right now with our economy and the upcoming elections. I see people living in fear of what decisions a man may make, that concerns their money and their future. We forget that these are just men and women, like King Nebuchadnezzar, but they are nothing compared to the One True God. No matter what happens next Tuesday, He is still on the throne and He will be no less powerful than He was the day before. The Bible promises us that He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The same God who saved three men in a burning furnace and even rescued them from smelly clothes, is the same God who listens to your prayers and sees your heart today. Live your life like they did, in courage and in faith. We are not here in vain, God has a plan for each and every one of us. There is a reason you woke up this morning to start another day. Do you know what it is? Ask Him to open the eyes of your heart-and you will see Him.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:12-13