Fireproof Faith
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. ~Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar had established a law that demanded that everyone bow to a monstrous image of gold that he had constructed and placed in the plain of Dura. Those who did not bow to it would be cast into a horrible, fiery furnace. Three Hebrew young men refused to bow to this image. They were cast into the fire, but God preserved and delivered them. Their faith was fireproof! The king saw three things about the faith of these men that stood out.
These three men were doubtless.
They are described as "servants that trusted in him." Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan king. He was greatly enraged that these Hebrew men would not bow to his image. When he saw how God protected them, he realized that they had a living and dynamic faith. He did not see them waver once during his confrontation with them. He saw that they were immovable in their faith. Not only would they not bow, but they also would not bend. They would not compromise their faith in God even if it meant death. Then, he saw that they were indestructible in their faith. The fire could not harm them. He saw that these three Hebrew men had a faith that was untouchable.
These three men were dedicated.
They "yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God." These three Hebrew men had true, biblical dedication. They testified of lives that were wholly reserved to God. They were God’s treasured possession, and nothing would change this. They epitomized being living sacrifices. Living in a pagan society had its many pressures. Yet, these men would not submit their bodies, spirits, or souls to serving or worshiping any false gods. Dedication was so monumental to them that danger itself would not make them change their minds.
These men were determined.
Their conviction and courage was so strong that they eventually changed the king’s word. The king reversed his previous law! Whereas before a man could be put to death in the fiery furnace for not bowing to the image, the king changed the law to now state that if anyone defamed God, it would result in endangerment. Think of the impact that a godly testimony has on unsaved people. They had no idea that their strong stand would reverse the king’s law. They just lived according to their convictions and were not afraid of the consequences. They were determined not to change their faith in God even if it meant the loss of their lives.
What do others around you have to say about your faith and testimony? Are you someone who bends with every wind of adversity? Or are you a Christian who is so stalwart in your faith that things are changing to your advantage? Let’s have a faith like these three Hebrew young men, and be an agent of change in our society!
Have a faithful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Samuel 13-15
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