Thursday, February 7, 2013

Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3:17-18 - ..."If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to  deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 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.”

I wrote awhile back about the three men of God who would not bow to any idol therefore would not bow to the idol King Nebuchadnezzar built and demanded all people worship. For this daring act they were cast into a fiery furnace to be killed for their insubordination to the king. They believed that no matter what happened to them, they would be saved, through deliverance from the fire...or in death. Either way they trusted their God.

Oh the faith and trust He so desires for us to have in all areas of our lives.

And as the story concludes, King Nebuchadnezzar saw these men and yet a fourth unknown to anyone walking around in this furnace. The furnace was seven times hotter than usual. The three guards who took them to the entrance to the furnace were killed just approaching the entrance... And these three men walked out of that furnace unharmed, not singed in any part their body or clothing, no smoky odor. Nothing. As if they had never been in that furnace.

So how much can God get us through any circumstance in our lives...unscathed, without the odor of the trial we've gone through? It can happen.

I have not been able to stop thinking about this account from weeks ago. It shows the very real power of our God. And He works like this still in the lives of those who follow Him. This story shows us that we are able to go through any circumstance of life, no matter how difficult it might be, if we hold on to the knowledge that Jesus is by our side.

Oh, for the faith and trust that Jesus walks with us in the fiery furnaces of situations of life. That He protects us, strengthens us. But not without a condition...that first we are totally submitted to Him. That we have not bowed to any other idol but to Christ alone. Let His name be lifted higher than any other.

We are none perfect. We all struggle with those things that take time away from our all-loving God. He loves us all with an unconditional love. But we must receive that love from Him. And then we must bow only before Him to receive the very same unscathing protection.

I know several people going through serious illness. I can't imagine doing this without the knowledge that our God cares for us in these times. And I often wonder how strong would I be of the same came to me. He longs to be beside us to help us through whatever it is. Just knowing He has our best interests is something to cling to.

We may not get through whatever the struggle is. It may be lifelong but as long as He is walking with us in that furnace, we are secure. It's the end result that matters...how did we come through the issues of life...did we come out of the furnace spiritually unscathed, odor free, because we have been with our Savior all along? In the end if we have clung to Him, we walk out of that furnace, whether it be out of the circumstance or through the circumstance.

There is a song running through my head. Someone posted it in Facebook a couple days ago. Here is a 4 minite version of it. I think I posted once before! But here are some of the lyrics:

Faithfulness none can deny.
Through the strom and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free:
Jesus Christ who lives in me.

Chorus
You are stronger
You are stronger
Sin is broken
You have saved me.
It is written Christ is risen.
Jesus You are Lord of all.

Jesus is there for all who want Him. Wanting Him comes with a price...loyalty to Him, desire for closer intimacy with our Lord, walking as Adam did with Him each day in the garden of our particular life. With that price comes His strength, His saving grace. But we must desire it over all things.

With Him by our side we need not fear. We have a hope that no matter what life on earth throws at us we will get through it, even in death. We know our hope is in the Lord and His promise of eternal life is for those who seek Him diligently, who bow only to Him, who call Him their King, who have no other gods before Him.

Lord, show us all exactly what it is we need to fully understand. Draw us closer into relationship with You. All You have done for us...You only ask for our devotion to You. Open spiritual eyes. Break up fallow ground in hearts. Tear down walls of sin that surround us. Close the gap between head and heart that prevents us from truly knowing You. You are the Master potter wanting to remold us into a beautiful creation from Your own hands. Take us in Your hands.

What fiery furnace of life are you facing? Our God is able...nothing is impossible with God...no one is like our God.

Daniel 3:23,27 - And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. “Look!” [King Nebuchadnezzar said] “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

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