In a previous week we saw how Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego risked death in the fiery furnace. Now that story may
have provoked two questions in your mind: how did they manage to
take their stand for God, and why was it so important anyway? While
you are unlikely to be threatened with death today, the question
does it matter if I compromise in the club today, is still a
relevant one.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter 2 and Daniel’s
interpretation of it may give us the clue. The climax was as
follows. “The God who rules from heaven will set up an eternal
kingdom that will never fall”. Daniel 2:44
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew who really was King, and which
kingdom would last. The dream reminded them that it is God who was
the real King, and his kingdom that would ultimately last. God may
have delegated his rule to humans, but at any point when God’s rule
is challenged, the believer is to take their stance.
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the
king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before
you in this matter. 17 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. 18 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."
Chapter 3v17-18 makes the believers’ stance clear – they serve God
not for what they can get out of him (rescue is not the issue), but
simply because he is God – there is no choice in their minds. They
must obey God. They act in the present because they know the reality
of the future.
Obedience in contemporary Christianity is often politely ignored. We
are quick to justify our actions – nobody does not today - and blame
our lack of obedience on circumstances. If we really understood and
believed in God’s eternal kingdom, we would have the motivation to
obey God.
The story ends on the triumphal truth that God will prove himself
King, and in the process rescue all those who belong to that
Kingdom. It is not a promise of physical rescue. As Hebrews
11v32ff reminds us of people who endured hardship because “they
were sure that they would get a better reward when the dead are
raised to life” (Hebrews 11:35b).
 So
as you give your all today, do it for God because of who he is and
out of love for him. While we do not serve God for what we can get
out of it, the fact is that he has promised eternal life and
indescribable pleasures to all who love him.
Stuart Weir and Graham Daniels
Also in this series on Daniel
Drawing the line
Not getting carried away
Master yourself
Life's a rollercoaster
The long haul
Things that last
Making a
difference
An audience of one
He
could never become a Christian
Being there for
Christ Writing
on the wall |
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