I know God doesn’t have a calendar because He doesn’t need one. He’s already present everywhere and He knows all things. But it is an interesting thought and I’m going to get to that later.
You know, so often we, as Christians, wonder about “Where is God?” especially when we face the difficult moments and the trials and temptations in life. I just want you to remember that God keeps His promises and Jesus made some very clear ones to us. “Lo (he said), I am with you always even unto the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). And again, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).
I’d like to take you back to the story of the three men in the fiery furnace; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Here were three young men taken from their families, moved into exile into a foreign country. They were all by themselves – literally – and yet we see somehow that they continue to trust and know the promises of God, so much so that there were many of the wise men, the magistrates, the governors, and the prefects of the day that looked at these men that were gaining in influence and they were jealous. And so, they encouraged King Nebuchadnezzar to set up a gigantic idol on the plane of Dura and there Nebuchadnezzar then would issue the decree that everyone was supposed to fall down and worship it. And if you didn’t, you would be thrown into this fiery furnace.
All these other rulers and governors couldn’t wait to tell Nebuchadnezzar that these three men – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – these young men had not obeyed. So King Nebuchadnezzar calls them into his presence and their words are truly inspired. Here we see ordinary guys trusting in the promises that they already had – we have far more, by the way, in the New Testament – and they would not bow the knee; they would not say the word. “O king, we want you to know,” they said, “that our God can save us. Our God is able; He is capable. But even if He does not save us, we are not going to bow down to this idol.”
What a wonderful faith. They were trusting in God and God was going to greatly bless them in a very unique way. Nebuchadnezzar said, the Scripture said, his countenance changed toward them; he was filled with rage. And he had some of his strongest soldiers bind these young men up. I kind of picture them wrapped up in duct tape – turbans, robes, everything – and had them carried to this furnace, heated seven times hotter than before, and thrown into the furnace. So hot was this furnace that the soldiers that carried them died. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t even seem to care about that. But what takes place is truly amazing. It’s awesome.
Not only was there a miracle that these three men lived, but there was a divine encounter that took place. Can you imagine what it was like for these three men in the furnace wondering what the pain was going to feel like? The searing pain; how long they would feel it, when would they die, when would their lungs be filled with fire, would their life be extinguished? And yet, when they opened their eyes, they’re in the fire. They’re no longer tied or bound. There’s not even the smell of smoke, we find out later, on their clothing. Nothing is even singed. That’s a great miracle. But the divine encounter that takes place is even more awesome.
King Nebuchadnezzar says, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire? Don’t I see four? And the fourth one shines like a son of the gods.”
I believe that that fourth person was the pre-incarnate Christ. It was Jesus Himself. First of all, it’s just kind of like something that He would do, be with His children in the most difficult of circumstances. And it’s also really kind of set up in the Hebrew to make one believe, I think, that it was Jesus Christ.
Luther believes that. So many other commentators do as well. Here they have, perhaps, the best small group meeting ever, Jesus and these three men. What an awesome time they had together. You know these are three ordinary men that had great conviction. They trusted the Word of God, were empowered by God to continue to believe in Him, and God never left them or forsook them. I hope you hear the echoes of God’s promises to us, “I will never leave you or forsake you. Lo, I am with you always even until the end of the age.” As those three men were there, it’s kind of interesting to remember that they were not going to worship that idol. They were only going to worship the true God. And they end up in the fire not worshiping the idol but worshiping, I believe, the true God. What they thought would be the most dangerous place to end up, because of their faith, yet trusting, turned out to be the safest place of all because Jesus was there. I believe that this encounter with Jesus marked them forever as every encounter with Jesus Christ does.
I want to get back to that thought. I know that God doesn’t have a calendar, but just imagine with me that He does. And what if that calendar on His refrigerator said at 10 a.m. on that Friday, or whatever day it was, “meet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace”? What if they hadn’t shown up? God is always present with us. We need to endure whatever comes our way. Jesus never promised us an easy life. None of the heroes of the faith ever had it easy before God. Rather, they experienced really the truth of all of Jesus’ teaching; if you believe in me you will have a great big God. You will have outrageous joy but you probably will always be in trouble. But this God will never leave us or forsake us.
Friends, I want to encourage you that no matter what difficulty you are going through, to remember to keep going forward in the faith, holding onto the promises that you have, and know that God will meet you in the furnace. I believe that these men held onto one of the great promises in the Old Testament that we find in Isaiah 43 (1-3). “Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Do not be afraid I am with you.”
What a marvelous promise from God. God makes the same promise to us. May we be found faithful as we continue to walk with Him. I think our names probably are on God’s calendar at different times. And I pray that we show up.
Just a thought.
