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 Abednego. Like many of us, they found themselves in the middle. . . of a big mess. 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 Abednego 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 3:17-18, KJV

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?. . . “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, KJV

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.  For me, this occurred recently.  “Yeah but, God did not heal my friend Dave from cancer when I prayed for him.”  The “yeah buts” are the reasons that the third statement of faith is the real clincher.  “But if not…” But if not, our faith will not be shaken, regardless of the consequences, and the consequences were real.  We will not bow down and worship another god. We will not give our faith to another.  

It is easy for us to jump to the end of the story. We all know how it turns out. We were taught this in Sunday school, 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 your name…anyway. I will speak of your goodness…anyway, and never give up.

Do You Have Faith?

The story of a man on a cliff illustrates this message of faith.   A man fell off a cliff, but managed to grab onto a tree limb on way down. The man shouted franticly: “Is there anybody up there?” A reply came back, “I am here. I am the Lord. Do you have faith in me?” The man answered, “Yes, Lord, I have faith. I really have faith, but I can’t hang on much longer.” The Lord responded, “If you really have faith, just let go of the branch and I will save you.” The man paused a moment and said: “Is there anybody else up there?” 

Of course, God knows more than we do and does not always answer in the way we want. However, we must trust that he is working every out for our good. Oswald Chambers, an early twentieth-century minister and author, wrote “Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is God. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.” While the three Hebrew children had to go through the fire, praise God, the story doesn’t end with verse 18.   

The Bottom Line

When our reality collides with our theology, have faith in God’s ability. When what we are seeing right now in our life does not line up with what we believe about God; then, trust God anyway. Is there anyone in the middle of a “fiery furnace?” If yes, face the fire with faith; never give up or give in, instead choose to look up. The good news is, like Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, we will find Jesus Christ with us in the fire. We are not alone and our God is able!

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear

Also, see Victorious Living.