When you meet your fiery furnace, what will you do? We can follow the example given us in chapter 3 of the book of Daniel.
In chapter 3 of Daniel, we find an amazing portrayal of faith in God. Nebuchadnezzar, ignoring previous lessons from God, built a huge golden image and gathered his council and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication. The pageantry began, and a herald cried to all that when the magnificent orchestra began playing, giving the signal for the worship of the image to commence, every person was commanded to fall down and worship the golden image. He went on to say that those who did not, would be thrown into a burning fiery furnace that same hour.
Daniel's three Jewish friends, given the Chaldean names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, were observed to refrain from this obvious idolatrous worship. Thus they were brought before the King. He then asked if it was true that they did not serve his gods, nor worship the image he set up, reminding them that if not, they would be cast into a burning furnace. He was furious at their disobedience! But these holy men were faithful to God, and with the greatest composure and serenity expressed their firm resolution not to worship Nebuchadnezzar's gods, or his golden image. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it knows unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up,” (vs 17-18).
The king was not accustomed to having his orders refused, and in full fury ordered that the furnace to be heated to seven times hotter than usual, and these men to be cast in. They did so, bound the them up in all their garments and cast them in. The fire was so hot that those who threw the three in were themselves killed. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, were at first lost from sight as they tumbled into the roaring flames. Suddenly, the king jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” They agreed. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” (Daniel 3:24-25 NLT). “Then, Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, ...and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and A-bed-ne-go, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither...” (3:26). The men came out of the midst of the fire, and all the princes, governors, captains, and counselors who had gathered to watch the spectacle, saw that the fire had no power over the three; not even a hair was singed and their clothes did not even smell of smoke! And Nebuchadnezzar spoke, blessing God for delivering them.
These holy men demonstrated what the apostles would teach many years later: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). The told the king that their God is able to deliver them, but even if He chooses not to, they would rather die than to disobey Him by worshiping the image. Many years earlier, Job had made a similar statement: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” Job 13:15). Their inspiring example of faith is an example to all of us.
In the pages of the New Testament, there is another story of a man facing the trial of his life, but with Jesus Christ standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Reading Acts chapters 6 and 7, we see that Jewish leadership who did not believe in Jesus as the Christ were enraged with him, and called for him to be stoned to death. In this case, God allowed Stephen not to be rescued and he gave his life in martyrdom. However, before he died, God allows Stephen to see a vision of heaven, the glory of God, and Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-56) to bring him encouragement and purpose! Jesus Christ was fully engaged, and standing with Stephen during the moment of his greatest need! The last thing Stephen saw before his death, and Jesus will be the first thing Stephen sees at the resurrection! As God clearly states throughout the Bible, He will never leave us nor forsake us!
So you see, the end result of being faithful through the full measure of the trial, is as written in Psalms 66:10-12 “...but You brought us out to rich fulfillment” (NKJV). Whether saved in the fire or held through the end, we too can exercise the same conquering faith that leads us successfully through the increasingly present trials of life!
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