Standing for God in Times of Crisis

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Standing for God in Times of Crisis

Today's Text: Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, ... we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:17, 18

The Message:      Nebuchadnezzar's wonderful dream caused a marked change in his ideas and opinions, and for a little time he was influenced by the fear of God; but his heart was not yet cleansed from its pride, its worldly ambition, its desire for self-exaltation. After the first impression wore away, he thought only of his own greatness, and studied how the dream might be turned to his own honor.      The words "Thou art this head of gold" made the deepest impression upon Nebuchadnezzar's mind. He determined to make an image that should excel the original. This image was not to deteriorate in value from the head to the feet, like the one he had been shown, but was to be composed throughout of the most precious metal. Thus the whole image would represent the greatness of Babylon, and he determined that by the splendor of this image the prophecy concerning the kingdoms that were to follow should be effaced from his mind and from the minds of others who had heard the dream and its interpretation. From the treasures obtained in war, Nebuchadnezzar "made an image of gold"... and issued a proclamation, calling upon all the officers of the kingdom to assemble at the dedication of this image, and at the sound of musical instruments, to bow and worship it....      The appointed day came, and at the sound of entrancing music the vast company "fell down and worshipped the golden image." But the three Hebrew youth, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (we have no record of Daniel's being present), did not dishonor the God of heaven by paying homage to this idol. Their action was reported to the king. Angered, he called them before him and by threats endeavored to induce them to unite with the multitude in worshiping the image. Courteously yet firmly they declared their allegiance to the God of heaven and their faith in His power to deliver them in the hour of trial.      The king's wrath knew no bounds. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than it was wont. And without delay the Hebrew exiles were cast in. So furious were the flames that the men who cast the Hebrews in were burned to death.-Manuscript 110, 1904.

Commentary: My friend, the story of Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah, better known by their given Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, parallels what will happen to the people of God in the last days when the mark of the beast will be impressed upon the whole world.  The three Hebrews that stood firm for God in this most trying time did not do so without preparation.  Like Daniel, they purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves with the food from the kings table.  By standing firm for God in the smaller areas of life, they were preparing to stand firm for Him when it mattered most. There are many in the church today that look upon this story as an evidence that God will not allow His people to be persecuted in the last days, but they misapply this story in two ways.  First they neglect the preparation that is needed to stand for God in time of trial, which is to be obedient in the smaller areas of life first.  They neglect to be temperate in all things and as such compromise with the world in the seemingly small things of life.  They are not truly surrendered to God and as such do not realize that God requires obedience in the small areas as well as the great. The second thing that they miss is that the three Hebrews had faith that God could save them, but what they don't recognize is that they were willing to suffer persecution and death even if God chose not to save them.  This is the condition that all must be in as we approach the last days.  Jesus said of the last days in Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."  What this is saying is that we must hold fast to our faith until either death or the second coming of Jesus.  It means that no matter what happens, whether trial, persecution, or death comes, we must be faithful to God in all things. My friend, during this time of relative peace and prosperity, we need to be faithful to God in all areas of our lives.  We must learn to trust in God in the small trials of life today that we may be faithful when it matters most.  We need to develop a trust in God today, that we will be ready to trust in Him when every earthly support will be taken away, when it seems like God Himself has forsaken us.  We must be able to say as did the three Hebrews "But if not,... we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:18). God bless,

Video of the Week Triune Sonship - Imad Awde The Scripture says that Jesus was begotten three times. He was begotten in Heaven, begotten on earth, and begotten from the dead. How does His threefold Sonship relate to the plan of salvation? And why is the Sonship principle applied to all three of them? Join Imad as he addresses these questions and more.