The Bottom Line

I had the chance to see a great friend from camp last night. I love spending time with him because he is so wise and he's one of those guys that, when you spend time with them, makes you feel a little smarter when you're done.

I heard a familiar passage.
One I'd heard many times before.
But something really struck me about it last night.

Daniel 3 talks about King Nebuchadnezzar building a huge (90 x 9 feet) image of gold that the people were commanded to bow down and worship at the sound of any kind of music. Those that did not immediately fall down and worship would subsequently be thrown into a "blazing furnace" (verse 6).

The passage goes on to say that "all peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold" that had been set up by the king.

Then.
A twist in the story.
Some astrologers come to the king and say what he'd like to hear...you know, kiss up to him. And at the same time, they tattle (yes, tattle) on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--all of whom pay no attention to what the king has decreed..."They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."

Obviously, the king is mad. He calls the three to be brought to him and [once again] commands them to fall down and worship the image of gold when the music is heard...and explains [once more] that if they fail to do so they'll immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.

And then he [King Nebuchadnezzar] says, "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
Pretty bold, huh?

This is where I was struck.
This next part.
Pay attention.
It's good.

"O 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 save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (verses 16-18)

the God we serve is able to save us...
but even if he does not...
we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold...
wow.

The rest of the story is known. The three of them get thrown in the furnace, which is now at seven times hotter than usual. The king sticks around to watch and see what happens to these boys that have defied him so. Looks inside the furnace. Notices FOUR men walking around...unbound and unharmed.

They are immediately called out of the furnace, and it is noted that everyone there saw that "the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair on their heads singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them" (verse 27).

Nebuchadnezzar goes on to praise the God of the three boys. Then decrees that anyone saying anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces..."for no other god can save in this way."

the bottom line is--
i want that kind of faith.
the kind that is bold.
the kind that says, "he can save me from it, but even if he doesn't..."
that is something to believe in.

the God we serve is able to save us...
but even if he does not...