Shadrach, Meshach & Abed-Nego

One of our key players in this drama is King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had a dream for which he wished an interpretation.  After Daniel interpreted the dream, the King made an image of gold, and decreed that his subjects fall down and worship it, OR BE THROWN INTO A BLAZING FURNACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego refused to serve the King's gods, or worship his image of gold, the King had the furnace heated to SEVEN times hotter than usual, and had the three men thrown into the blazing furnace.  THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT THE SOLDIERS WHO CAST THEM INTO THE FIRE WERE IMMEDIATELY KILLED.  When the king observed our heroes (Shadrach, Meshach & Abed-Nego) firmly tied but unharmed, he also noted a fourth man, unbound and unharmed walking around in the fire, who looked like a  “son of the gods” to the king!

The King approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, come here!"  Then the King said "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach & Abed-nego!”

DISCIPLINED BY FIRE

Our God tells us in Hebrews 12, "but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness... Later it (the discipline) produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

MODERN EXAMPLES OF A "DIVINE BEING" BEING OBSERVED by "Unbelievers" when the Righteous "stand firm in the faith":

-       A few short years ago, Chinese "house Christians" numbered only a few million.  When those who were persecuted for their faith were observed in their steadfastness, the number of independent Christians in that country began to multiply, so that today it is estimated there may be as many as 70 million Christians in the "house churches", MANY of whom have seen a "fourth person" (holiness) among the "faithful few"

-       In addition to several whom I personally know whose "faith (and JOY in Jesus) shine BRIGHTLY" in the midst of "trying circumstances", I am also reminded of a new book entitled "Kisses from Katie" by Katie Davis. Katie voluntarily undergoes a life of deprivation in the country of Uganda to minister to, and even adopt, many Orphan girls in that country because of the "call of Jesus" upon her life when she was newly graduated from High School. Now she is only in her early twenties! She hails from Brentwood, Tennessee, and gives up a "life of ease" in the U.S. in answer to the "call of Jesus" upon her life.

-       A personal example is of a niece "whose faith shone brightly" in the fire of "trying circumstances" during her life through the breakup of her home as a young child. Many hardships followed this along with a tragic accident while she and her husband were bicycling which left her crippled and unable to walk again. But she had become a "joy-giver" to her husband and family, her father, and countless others (including myself) whom the Lord had placed in her life.  

So, if YOU are being "tested by fire", "refined as pure GOLD", then "Count it ALL JOY" as Hebrews 12 says.

- Gary Tate