Daniel 3:18 “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Of the Bible’s most familiar stories, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego ranks as one of the most told. They were contemporaries of Daniel, and their story of conviction and courage is found in the book of Daniel, chapter 3. Most likely you know their story of how they defied King Nebuchadnezzar’s order for everyone to bow down and worship the image of gold. Daniel 3:4 says, “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 “that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;” While there was no real benefit to worshipping the golden image there were severe consequences if one did not bow down when the music played and worship the idol. Daniel 3:6 says, “And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
These guys in Babylonian are not playing around. They took canceling a person to another level. Instead of firing the non-conformist from say their job they were going to throw them in a fire.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE ASK, EVEN COMMANDED, TO COMPROMISE YOUR FAITH?
Working with a group of High School seniors a few years ago we talked about Daniel and then these three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and how they ESTABLISHED what their NOTS were. Daniel, in Chapter 1, was NOT going to defile himself. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego told the king that they do NOT serve his gods and WOULD NOT worship the gold image which you have set up.
There is no question we should admire the courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. They were put into a fiery furnace to kill them, refusing to back down. We do love this story because God protected them, even walking in the fire with them. I simply want to say let us admire more their CONVICTIONS – their established convictions before ever facing their moment of decision that would define them. It was their NOTS that kept them from compromising.
Knowing that many of the seniors I was working with would soon be not just leaving our school but also their home and their home church to go to various colleges I assigned them to write down 50 things that they WOULD DO and/or NOT DO to live out their Christianity and represent Christ as they were now on their own.
What are your convictions? Whether with family or friends, at work or play, in church or with our government, what are your I WILL BE and I WILL NOT BE statements?
It has been said if you do not STAND for something you will FALL for everything.
Continue Strong with strong convictions,
And remember to DATE the Word