Post by Don Gieseke on Feb 5, 2015 16:01:44 GMT -6
The brave young men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego dared to face the rage of the infuriated tyrant, Nebuchadnezzar, and refused to bow to his image. And because they saw Him who is invisible, and were conscious of their ultimate reward, they believed.
The king gave them another opportunity to change their minds. They answered: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). They didn’t know that God would deliver them, but they said, “No! We take our stand for the living God, even if it means death.”
When we make such a choice, we may lose for a time—but we gain for eternity. The loss is transient and temporary, but the gain is everlasting and eternal. They were ready with an answer. They confessed their faith, they showed their confidence in God. They were ready to die. If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we will not perish, but have everlasting life. That is the promise.
What do you value eternally?
Prayer
Lord, may we never be distracted by the temporary gains we might make in life by not taking a stand for Christ. Please give us the boldness to lose for a time in order to gain eternity. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Scripture quotation is taken by permission from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers, Nashville, Tenn. From Billy Graham: "Decision" magazine, February 2013, ©1986 BGEA.