Courage and Conviction<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
By Christopher Johnson
 
In <?xml:namespace prefix = st2 ns = "QV10" />Daniel 3, a powerful account of courage and conviction is given. The ruler of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered a magnificent image to be built. It was made of gold and stood an amazing 90 feet tall. He commanded the image be set up in the plain of Dura where the sun could shimmer off the golden edifice reflecting its beauty and grandeur. People from around the kingdom were gathered to the plain and given specific instructions to bow and worship the golden image that the king had set up. At the proper time, all who were assembled fell on their faces before the image and worshipped with great fervor. All except three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These men were of Jewish decent and were followers of God. They knew the commandment that said there were to be no other gods before God and they had committed themselves to obeying their Lord. While their stance was bold and courageous the penalty for disobeying King Nebuchadnezzar's command was death. The king had decreed that anyone who refused to obey him would be thrown into a fiery furnace and burned until dead. When the king discovered the disobedience of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego he was filled with rage and demanded that at once they bow before his image. What happened next was incredible. Instead of cowering before the king, the men stood tall and declared,
 
 
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)
 
King Nebuchadnezzar seethed with anger ordered the furnace be heated seven times its original heat. The furnace was so hot that as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the furnace the men who brought them to the door were consumed by the fire. However, God protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and they stood in the midst of the fire untouched. The Bible tells us that they didn't even smell of smoke.
The king was dumbfounded and shook with fear, he commanded Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to come out of the fire and they did without any sign of injury or pain.
 
As a follower of Christ you, like the men in Daniel 3, are on a journey in a foreign land. By birth you might be a citizen of a particular country, but as children of God our allegiance is to Him alone. Spread throughout this land are idols that demand your worship, Self-centeredness is one of the greatest. The temptation to amass possessions, the allurement of unhealthy relationships or the draw of evil entertainment are just a few examples of things in your life that have been set up in an effort to draw your time, energy and focus. They glimmer and shine with exquisite beauty. If you want to be popular, well liked and fit in simply bow before these idols and worship.
 
The battle is for our lives and the enemy is Satan. He will offer us the world if we will only enjoy the delicacies he has to offer. We might think a devotion like this isn't for us but
a prayerful inspection of our lives will clearly show our places of errant worship.
 
The lesson to be learned from Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is that God is greater than all else. Our lives are precious and should not be wasted following after the things of the world. Nothing the world has to offer compares to the greatness of knowing, following and loving Christ.
 
LIVE IT OUT
What about you? What are the idols in your life? Take some time to today and prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the places where you are worshipping the images of the world. Repent of your idolatry and receive the forgiveness that Christ offers.
 
As you face these temptations in the future don't be afraid to stand with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and declare that you will worship Christ Alone!
 
 
 
Read the whole story in Daniel 3
 
 
The Furnace is a publication of
Christopher Johnson. He is the Youth
Pastor of Crosswalk Church in
Daytona Beach, Florida. His passion is to
teach and preach the powerful truths
of the Bible and his greatest desire is
to see a mighty revival in the hearts of
young men and women around the world,
a revival that is marked by renewed
love for God's Word.

The mission of The Furance is to
declare the sufficency of the Bible as
the final directive of our lives.
God has graciously laid out His
desire for our lives in His word
and this publication seeks to expose
those desires and challenge
young people to be faithful
followers of Jesus Christ by
abiding in His word.
 
Email Chris at
Crosswalk483yahoo.com