Through the Fire



A perfect example of testing is the account in the scripture of the three Hebrew men. 

The leaders of Babylon were jealous and hurled accusations about them, to the king.  

There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affair of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Daniel 3:12 (ESV)

At this point, they were given a clear ultimatum by the king.

But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast in a fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands? Daniel 3:15b (ESV)

Anything that is of value that goes through the fire will come out pure.

Going "through the fire", so to speak, can be so much more than purification. (It can be getting rid of excess baggage, weights, hindrances, past, etc. ) 

Anything that does not have value will not make it through the fire, at all.

Notice what took place.

~They refused to bow

~They knew they might have to die for their beliefs

~There faith was tested

~They came out unbound

~They were promoted

~God was honored

Think about the fact that they were bound on the way in and unbound when they came out. No longer bound to the past. No more chains, dark secrets, accusations, or old identities.

Everything that was holding them back and weighing them down, was stripped away, forever.

No residual. No smoke.

We don't choose these things. The fire takes what it wants. Everything that is not of value will be burned, as you are walking through.

....and consider who it is that goes with you.

There was a fourth man in the fire. It was an impossible situation, otherwise.

At some point, in the midst of the fire, something changed.

They went from being rejected and reviled, to becoming highly favored and sought after.

It was a refining process. It was a defining moment and it happened before the watching world in order for God to be glorified.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. Psalm 91:15 (KJV)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Faith, When We Don't Understand

      God takes Ezekiel's wife. He warns him the day it happens and requires of Ezekiel not to mourn, weep, or let tears run down. Ezekiel 24:15-18 (ESV) The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke: yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men." So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded. This was all done as an example for Israel. Ezekiel 24:19-24 (ESV) And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?”   Then I said to them, “The word of the L ord came to me:   ‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord G od : Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the p...
Read more

Things That Are Not Seen

Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.(Psalm 119:90) If we sit and think about all of the blessings of God, we have to acknowledge His faithfulness in every situation of life! It is the INTANGIBLE things that God truly blesses us with. These are things that can never be taken away from us; like treasures in heaven. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (I Timothy 6:19) God shows up with many intangible gifts when we need them. Mercy for example; and grace. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:9) From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. ( John 1:16) God's faithfulness CANNOT be compared to man's reliability. I think that is why so many times we can't seem to believe Him for His blessings. We are too busy looking at all the p...
Read more

You Will Reap What You Sow

Galatians 6:6-10 states,   The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Many times this scripture is used in a negative light. When we are angry we say, "you are going to reap what you sow". Why do we do this? This is arrogance at it's finest, and we have all been guilty at times. Of course they are all going to reap what they sow; but it is not our place to lash out at people with this verses intending to punish! God is the only judge!  These verses addressed a pa...
Read more