Daniel
3 reminds me of the first time I went back to my home town after I
had accepted Christ as my Savior. I was a new believer, still
learning God’s Word. Much or what we did in my hometown revolved
around drinking, and I knew I would see old friends and old
lifestyles. My biggest concern was personal hypocrisy. How could I
explain my experience without sounding holier-than-thou? Publicly
honoring God without appearing sanctimonious is a challenge. In
today’s chapter we read of Daniel’s three friends, living in the
midst of hostility, but prepared for the consequences. They had
already been given tremendous recognition, no doubt causing jealousy
among their peers. The chapter begins, “King
Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold… and set it up…in
the province of Babylon… He
then summoned… all
the other provincial officials
to come to the dedication… and
they stood before it“.
The king had a massive ego and
commanded, “As soon as you hear
the sound of… music, you
must fall down and worship the image of gold“.
Anyone who did not “will
immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace“.
The wise men that had been
passed over for promotion got an idea, “some
astrologers came
forward and denounced the Jews“.
They were successful; the king was “Furious
with rage” and summoned the
young men. He asked them only one question, “Is
it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my
gods or worship the image of gold?”
It was decision time.
The
king even gave them a second chance to fall down and worship the
idol. “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 hand?”
Their decision had already been made before this time, and that is
the key to victory. Where do you draw the firm lines that you will
not compromise? They answered, “The
God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us…
But even if He does not… we will not serve your gods or worship the
image of gold you have set up“.
This was career suicide; they would be “fired”!
He
ordered “the furnace heated
seven times hotter than usual… and throw them into the blazing
furnace… bound… wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other
clothes“. The king observed,
“Weren’t there three men that
we tied up and threw into the fire? I see four men walking around in
the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of
the gods“. Who was the fourth
man? I believe it was Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The same God that
appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told His disciples, “before
Abraham was born, I am!”
(John 8:58).
The
king shouted,
“servants of the Most
High God, come out!”
All in attendance observed, “the
fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads
singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire
on them“.
The king had one reaction, “Praise
be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego… They trusted in
Him… and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or
worship any god except their own God“.
To the dismay of their adversaries, the king promoted them, again.
My journey home crystalized one understanding. Many of my friends
and family struggled with alcohol. Romans chapter 14 says, “Make
up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of
a brother or sister“.
That would be my testimony. “If
your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat (or
drink), you are no longer acting
in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died“.
Friend, do you know the lines
you will not cross?