"We Can't Witness If We're Dead!"

Suggested Reading: Daniel 3:1-30

One of my favorite stories from scripture is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were three Hebrew young men who had been kidnapped from their home in Judah and forced into the service of the Babylonian king. As they figured out how to live in the Babylonian court, they did their best to be faithful to God, despite the constant pressure to compromise the commands of God to succeed and fit into the surrounding culture. Along with Daniel, they repeatedly held their ground and became a witness to King Nebuchadnezzar because of it. He even announced, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings" (Dan 2:47, ESV). 

But not long after that, Nebuchadnezzar set up an idol and commanded everyone in the kingdom to worship it, threatening them with a fiery death in a furnace if they refused. Despite the penalty of death hanging over their heads, these young men never even considered compromising and worshipping Nebuchadnezzar's idol. They didn't decide to worship the idol "just this once" because they couldn't keep telling people about God if they were dead. They didn't rationalize giving this prideful, sinful king what he wanted because he provided the money and resources that they lived on. They knew what God had called them to, and they took their stand, saying, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up" (Dan 3:17-18, ESV). Notice the last part of their statement to the king. They trusted that God would deliver them, "but if not" they would still remain faithful to the commands of God. 

Sometimes, we are tempted to compromise just so that we can survive. We are tempted to adjust what we are doing so that the sinful, prideful king won't destroy us. After all, how can we tell people about God if we are dead? How can we share the Gospel if we are killed for our faith? How will we keep the church doors open if standing on the truth of scripture drives people away and we can't pay the bills? Can't we compromise just a little so that we can live to fight the good fight another day?

But God does not call us to survive. God calls us to be faithful. We say that God is able to save us. We say that God is faithful. But when the moment of decision comes, do we trust God to see us through or are we tempted to compromise to survive? Are we willing to do things we know we shouldn't do because faithfulness would hurt us? Are we tempted to give in to sinful, prideful people to avoid complications we aren't sure how to deal with? Or do we trust God enough to obey him regardless of how tough things might get? 

God doesn't call us to survive. Survival is nothing without faithful obedience. We must be willing to do what is right regardless of the consequences, trusting that God will see us through.

Being Roasted Alive For Risking Romance

Suggested Reading: Daniel 3:1-18 (or read the whole story here)

In the 90's television series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, a driving force for the show was the question of when Lois and Clark would finally get together. As the moment approached and Lois and Clark began emerging as a couple, Lois got very scared and considered pulling out because she didn't want to risk losing Clark as her best friend if their relationship didn't work out. As they talked, Clark admitted that he was also scared, but the possibility of what they could be together motivated him to move forward. Eventually Lois agreed and they continued with their romantic relationship.

But the idea of deciding between the possibility of pain or the potential of adventure and its rewards is not a new one. In the book of Daniel three young men faced that choice themselves when Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to bow down and worship the idol he had set up or be tossed into a fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to choose between being guided by the possibility of pain and death if they obeyed God's law or the potential adventure and rewards if they were faithful and God chose to rescue them. When given one final chance to choose, 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, NLT).

In very clear terms, these men stated the choice between the "certainty" of death and the possibility of rescue. Knowing God could deliver them was enough to motivate them, but they acknowledged the real possibility that God might not choose to do so. For these three men, fear of pain and death could not keep them from obeying God's commands because the potential to see God rescue them was worth any risk.

What about you? When facing a decision, especially when obeying God might cost you, are you motivated by potential or held back by fear? Is knowing that God can do the miraculous good enough for you or does the possibility that God might not hold you back? God is able to deliver. Will you give God the chance or will you miss out because of fear?