Daniel 3: 8-30
Wednesday, 9 December 2020
“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” -Daniel 3:17-18
Faith like that of the three young Israelites who risked their lives is expected in the life of a Christian; but in His mercy, God is most gracious to us even with our imperfect faith and has kept us alive and well. Faith in the living God holds us in tumultuous times.
There are numerous examples from the Bible for those who stood the test and were delivered by God through such miracles like the three young Israelites and also those who joined the Lord in Heaven like Abel (from Old Testament) or Stephen (Book of Acts). Abel was killed because of His pleasing sacrifice to the Lord, which is true in a way about Stephen also. What is the criteria for God to act differently? This question may be raised against any of the evil things happening to God’s people or natural calamities like floods or earth quakes. Let us ponder on it based on the Word of God.
God knows better: Anyone who believes in God will not question the validity of this argument, especially believers who know God as the most righteous and all-knowing. Because of the faith of the three young Israelites the pagan King and the whole nation came to know and revered God.
This world is not the end: In Christian faith we have the assurance that everything happens with the knowledge of God and as He allows it to happen. There is life afterwards and all will be judged according to their deeds (Romans 2:6). This world is just a shadow of something great to come- the heaven, and by death, we just change the location of our existence. So the hardship of a lifetime is only like a split-second from a broader perspective of eternity with our Lord.
Everything together works for the Good of those who Love God: God is steering this world with billions of rebellious people to the end He has decided beforehand. As theologians point out the Omniscient God can only know and control the effects of the decisions made by these multitude of people, some of which may be extremely evil in nature. In His power He controls all these events and its aftereffects while allowing humanity to function with the freewill He has given to them. Events like natural calamities and its effects which also are happening since God allows it, has a place in this series of events which God uses to take this world to the end He has planned.
Difficult times make us to look towards God: As the child who looked up when one of the coins hit him on the head while picking up the coins, without looking up to see the one who threw it, God might be giving us a chance by way of allowing the hardships or calamities to search for and find Him.
Committed Christian life and the resulting suffering is like myrrh which when pressed produces the aroma of God’s love which will definitely influence and lead others to the Love of God and eternal life.
God who saved us by sacrificing His Son, loves us more than anything else and will come to our rescue as the fourth one in the fire or in the fourth hour of the night or on the fourth day in our times of trouble. In case if He chooses not to, it is also for the good of us, which is ultimately eternal life and its delight in His presence.
PROMISE: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)
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