King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold that was in his likeness. He sent a decree thought the land that when the people heard the music they were to stop what they were doing and bow down and worship the statute of the king. Whoever did not bow down and worship the king would be thrown into a blazing furnace. So the music starts playing and all the people bow down and worship the statue except for three Jewish boys name Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king’s astrologers came to him and told the king that the three boys refused to bow down and worship his image, the young me that the king had promoted to roles of leadership in his kingdom.
The king was furious he called the boys to him and we read in Daniel 3:14 “Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the music, and are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hands?”
This is how our world operates, not some of the time but all the time. When we refuse to bow down and worship the world it gives us an ultimatum, bow down or die! Now the world we live in is not the world the Jewish people found themselves in during Babylonian captivity, there are no blazing furnace being stoked for us. There are loss relationships that can burn just as much. If we take Christianity seriously, we must also take the words of Christ to heart as well. They hated me so they will hate you. How we respond when the furnace is hot speaks louder than any message from any pulpit. You never know who is watching, who is looking, to see our faith inaction.
Daniel 3:16 “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.”
Well the king was beyond mad now he told his men to make the furnace as hot as it can be and to throw the boys into it. They made that furnace so hot that the men that threw the boys into the furnace also died. Now look at what happened next. God happen. The king jumped to his feet and asked an advisor did we not throw in three boys? The advisor told him yes the how is there now four walking around unharmed, not burned. Then the king shouted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Servants of the Most High God come out! Then the king made anew decree that day saying no other god can save this way. If we want to introduce the world to the one true God, the only god who can save, we must be acquainted with him ourselves. Let’s not give into the pressure to just bow down to the world, let’s stand in the mist of the fiery furnace and show that our God is a God who truly saves.
