Stand

In the third chapter of Daniel we read about Daniel's three buddies, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They ran afoul of the king's advisors because, well, they were wise and reliable and good and that would never do. So when the king built a statue and ordered people to bow when they heard the music, it was these advisors that "came forward and maliciously accused the Jews." (Dan 3:8) The king, furious, asked the three if it was true. He would avoid tossing them into the fire if they would just bow down. They said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Dan 3:16-18) Well, you know the rest of that story. The king tossed them into a fire that killed the guys that tossed them in and was stunned to see four, not three men, all walking around in the fire. They came out unhurt, only the bindings burned off and without even a hair singed or the smell of fire on them (Dan 3:27).

These three guys stood rather than bowed. They refused to worship the god of the day. (Is there a more appropriate definition of Nebuchadnezzar's image?) And they were tossed in the fire for it. The king ended up promoting them. A happy ending. But I see a parallel. Today, we are told to bow to the god of the day. Oh, and there is more than one. There is the god of science which, unable to test for God, has determined He doesn't exist (as if that makes sense) and if you don't bow to that deity, you're facing fire. There is the god of sexual promiscuity--heterosexual and homosexual. If you don't bow to that deity, you're can expect fire. There is the god of moral relativism. Bow or burn. There is even the god of power, be it political or popularity. Surrender or die.

I want you to note the position these three guys took when they faced their actual fiery furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace," they told the king, "but if He doesn't, be it known to you that we will not serve your gods." Christian, God can deliver you from the fire society is offering you if you don't bow to the god of the day. (Oh, and trust me, if you stand there like those three did, they will "maliciously accuse" you.) God can and even might spare you as He did them. He might not. You need to decide if deliverance is more important than doing what is right. Bow to science against God's Word or surrender God's commands on sexual morality and everything else right or wrong in this world, or stand and be counted, even at great threat and possible pain. Your call.