“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’” (Daniel 3:16-18).
“I feel like I’ve been attempting to fit a thousand pegs into the relationship hole but not one satisfies you with the words you are looking for me to say.” Those were the words I said to my wife in complete frustration.
Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego’s faith was tested. Would they worship another God defined by their boss, the king of Babylon? If not, they would be thrown into a fiery pit.
There was no decision to be made. It had already been made in their mind and heart. There would be no skirting the issue. They would not reframe the issue with political babble to save their necks. No, they took the issue head on. “There is only one God, oh king. It is the God we serve!” Oh, what bold faith. They knew God could save them, but even if He didn’t, so be it. This was their stand.
There is a time to stand for absolute truth. “Jesus IS the only way to the Father.” We live in a culture that is defined by situational ethics and a belief that there are many ways to God. “As long as I am not hurting anyone why would God care if I live with my girlfriend?” “Surely you don’t believe homosexuality is sin!” “Are you one of those rigid fundamentalists?” The issues of our day cry out for a life that lives from a basis of absolute truth.
If I get fired for that belief, so be it. If I am branded a bigot, so be it. If I am viewed as rigid and narrow by others, so be it. If I die for my faith, so be it. I live to please an audience of only One.
