I was thinking on this subject as I saw the picture of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego in the flames for refusing to bow down to a false idol. King Nebuchadnezzar became enraged when he learned of the 3 Jews who refused to bow down to his worthless golden idol. He immediately summoned them and asked them if it was true. Their response to him was clear to the king in Daniel 3:16-18:
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Of course the king was furious and had them bound and thrown into the furnace. The flames were so furiously hot that the soldiers who threw them in were killed. But when the king looked into the furnace he was puzzled because he saw four, not three men walking around!! And they were all unharmed. Not even their clothes were singed! How could this be? Their God, the one true God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob was there with them. Even in their darkest hour! Praise God!! Then King Nebuchadnezzar had no choice but to shout praise to the God of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego!! He went on to say in verses 28-30:
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Listen, even when you are facing a major firestorm in your life, you WILL NOT be in it alone as long as God is in your life! It may seem so major at the time that it will take out people around you! But the good Lord has already made provision for our protection in His Word when He said in Psalm 91:7: "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you."
He said that even when you are in the worst situation you've ever faced in your life, GOD WILL BE WITH YOU!! That is a shouting message!! Hallelujah!!! So remember when you're facing a storm, ask God to protect you. He will be there. He will never leave you nor forsake you. But He will be with you until the end of the age and forever!!
Glory to God!!!
Robert T Sells
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit him atwww.reverbnation.com/theanointedpoet.
