Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Furnace and the Fire

God does not deliver from the furnace, but He delivers from the fire.
But of course, not everyone.
Only His servants.
This is what happened with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, sentenced them to death because of their bold disobedience to his commands.
They stood firm and did not bow down or worship his gold statue because of their faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
The king was so furious that his face became distorted with rage and he ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.
The Almighty’s faithful servants were bound in their coats, trousers, turbans and other garments, and were cast into the fiery furnace.
Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flames of fire killed the men who took them up and threw them into the furnace.
However, as the king looked into the furnace, he noticed a fourth man.
He saw them walking around in the fire, but it was not burning their hair or coats.
He didn't even smell anything burning, Daniel 3.
Both the people of Babylon and its royalty saw the greatness of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, because He sent His angel to deliver the servants who trusted in Him.
God honored, and still honors, those who would rather sacrifice their lives than serve, adore or worship images of wood, stone or metal.
However, worshipping your heart, family and this world is just as evil as worshipping images.
The Lord Jesus teaches us:

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find It”, Matthew 10.34-39

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