Who’s in the Fire with You? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley, D.Min.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV).
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a trouble-free life without trials, spiritual attacks, jealousy, or division? As much as we might try to create a consistently peaceful environment, the perfect, problemless existence will not happen this side of Heaven. Jesus gave us a heads up that we are to expect trouble in this world, but we are not to worry because He has overcome the world.
Jesus is with us amid trouble.
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel comes to mind. The three exiled servants of King Nebuchadnezzar refused to bow down to a 90-foot-tall golden image that the king had erected. When anyone heard the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, or pipes, they were required to fall down and worship the image. If they did not pay homage to the image, they’d be thrown into a fiery furnace.
When the trio refused to worship the golden image because they only bowed down to the one true God, they were bound and tossed into the fire. King Nebuchadnezzar was so enraged that he had the fire heated seven times hotter than usual. However, King Nebuchadnezzar realized he had made a horrible mistake when he witnessed the preincarnate Christ save the trio of believers. Look, I see four men walking about unbound and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the fourth has the appearance like a son of the gods! (Daniel 3:25, TLV).
At that point, Nebuchadnezzar could no longer deny what he saw and became a believer; however, this story also conveys a life truth. We will still be thrown into the fire at times, and sometimes the fire will be hotter than we can stand, but we must look for Jesus, the Son of Man, when we are in the fire. He is always with us. He will guide us out, unsinged, if we trust Him. And when others witness our faith through the trial, it might be enough to give their hearts and lives to Jesus as well, just like the wayward King Nebuchadnezzar.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego received favor and a promotion after their stand of faith. How will you respond the next time a fire surrounds you?
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