Yeah But. . . Never Give Up

There are a lot of teachings regarding the subject of faith, but none more powerful than that of the three Hebrew children: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Like many of us, they found themselves in the middle…in the middle of a problem, people, predicaments, or a big mess. Yes, our God is the God of new beginnings and great endings, but, lucky for us, he is also God in the middle. Despite the “Yeah but” going off in your head, never give up.

These three servants of God were faced with a choice when King Nebuchadnezzar made a prideful decision and decree:

The Fourth Man

“At the time you hear the sound of the music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image the king has set up. Whoever falls not down shall be cast into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego said to the king; “If it be so, our God is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and he will deliver us; but if not, we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up” (Daniel 3:4-6). Then, the king full of fury commanded that the furnace be made seven times hotter, and that they be bound and cast into the middle of the fiery furnace. The furnace was so hot that the flames slew the men that cast them in. When the king looked, he said; “Did we not cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?

Before we jump to the end of the story, let us pause at verses 17 and 18 for a moment. Here the three Hebrew children made three powerful statements.  First, they said, “If it be so, our God is able to deliver us.”  How many agree with this statement that God is able? “Our God is able” is a declaration of faith.  It demonstrates the confidence that we have in our God.  

Yeah But

Their second statement is more difficult. “He will deliver us” demonstrates an assurance that we expect from a father who loves us, because we have experienced his deliverance in the past. How many would agree that he will deliver us? I can sense the hands going up, but I can also hear the “yeah buts” going off in your heads. We have all experienced examples when God did not deliver. The “yeah buts” are the reasons that the third statement of faith is the real clincher. “But if not…” our faith will not be shaken, regardless of the consequences, and the consequences were real.

It is easy for us to jump to the end of the story. We all know how it turns out, but it could have turned out differently. I wonder, if it had, would it have been written about in the Bible and told 3,000 years later? Maybe not, but it should, because this third statement of faith provides the perseverance that we need in our lives today. “But if not…” I will serve you anyway. I will praise you…anyway. I will speak of your goodness…anyway.

Jesus is the fourth man in the fire! We are not alone and our God is able! Never give up.

“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.” (Daniel 3:24-25)

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear

Also, see Victorious Living.