Before moving to chapter four, I am struck by the situation in chapter three.
This situation may see far away in both time and type.
Let’s consider the “two” main characters in chapter three: Nebuchadnezzar, and our three heroes.
Nebuchadnezzar, even after Daniel (in chapter two) demonstrates how Yahweh is indeed the Most-High God, and even after he worships God, decides to build a giant idol and command all to worship it.
Nebuchadnezzar’s action flow from a decision he has made.
Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego have also made a decision: a decision to not worship this graven image.
While far away in time and type, this is a present-day reality for all who choose to follow Jesus.
Consider three thoughts.
First: Decisions, we have to make them, and they can cause us angst.
Many decisions put our values to the test. It is easy to espouse a set of beliefs and values; it is quite another to live them. As the saying goes, “Talk is cheap.”
We’ve all heard people say, “I was drawn to Jesus and his message, but then I met some Christians.”
Following Jesus, day-in and day-out is a challenge.
The grace of God, while a free gift to all, is a free gift that has a very high cost.
That cost shows up in the daily living of our lives. To follow Jesus means daily choices. Those choices show up where we work, how we play, what our marriage looks like. In sum, all the relationships of our lives will be affected.
And so, there are days these choices and decisions seem to hurtle themselves at us with unrelenting intensity.
Further, these decisions cause us angst, and in some cases real emotional suffering. Just because our three heroes were delivered, don’t think they did not suffer. Their suffering was encapsulated in all that led up to walking into the furnace.
Decisions, we have to make them, and they will cause us angst.
Which leads to the next point.
Second, while God does not deliver us from decisions, He is present. The fourth figure in 3:24-26 is God present.
It would be natural for us to miss the real point of this, or to slip into Christian cliché. Let’s consider it a bit more.
I work with Christians in countries where the persecution is real. I’ve been in those countries with them, praying. At times I think, “I could never do what they do.” Maybe even feel a bit of guilt that I am somehow deficient.
To have that emotion, while natural, is to miss the point. It is not the human who singularly rose up as a hero, no, it is the Spirit of God.
It is God’s presence which results in our witness. God equips us for those moments after we have decided to be faithful for him.
Which leads to the third point, and that is: If you claim to be a follower of Jesus, you cannot escape having to live out your decisions in the public eye.
Today, the image of Christians as hypocrites, uncaring, too political, sheltered from the world, etc. is hard to escape. (See Dave Kinnaman’s book unChristian).
This uncomplimentary view of Jesus’ followers by the world is powerful. Satan uses it to silence Jesus’ followers. There is growing view, possibly the dominate view, that faith is to be private. Don’t buy into it.
Instead lean into this story. Lean into Jesus for there is Good News. We are not called on to WIN at all costs. In fact, the Bible tells us that the war has been won, so live your life in manner worthy of the Gospel.
What decisions are you facing today?