Faith Tested by FireSample

Faith Response

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith response was a matter of sound consideration. They reflect their belief in two things. First, they believe in the ability of their God. The king says, “Who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands?” They said, in effect, “Our God is. Our God has the ability.” I tend to think that they had some sense in their hearts that God was about to put His mighty power on display, because of the way their response is worded: “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” (Daniel 3:17).

The second thing the young men had considered, besides God’s ability to save them, was God’s sovereignty. “But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:18). Their response reflects that they know of their God’s ability and sovereignty. They don’t have a right to presume that God will deliver them. He may have chosen not to do that, but their decision was firm either way.

Their faith response was a matter of conviction, it was a matter of sound consideration, and it also was a matter of cost evaluation. They had considered the cost: “If not, we still won’t worship that image. We’re ready to yield our bodies if it means being faithful in our souls. We’ll lose our life to be faithful to our God.”

That faith response had an impact on King Nebuchadnezzar. After the Lord delivered them, “Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God’” (Daniel 3:28). The king saw their faith and obedience. These men counted the cost. They were ready, if necessary, to die to be faithful to God and His Word.

You know you have conviction when you have considered the high cost, and you still won’t compromise.