Day 14 The Upside of Danger

Many years ago I took a stand on a job. After not going in on a Sabbath, my supervisors created a work-around and I continued to work. As a result, I was known as a person of integrity who could be counted on. I had the respect of my peers and some of my supervisors. Some even asked me about my beliefs. One former employee to this day still refers to me as “rev.”

Nebuchadnezzar is completely beyond himself. He cannot believe his eyes. He just watched these Hebrew exiles be thrown into a fiery pit and not burn. Not only did they not burn, but their clothes don’t even have the smell of smoke. I can imagine that is the origin of the phrase, ‘ you don’t look like what you been through.’

Through the roughest season of your life God has been there with you, walking with you. When the heat of your mistakes threatened to burn your future, God was walking with you. He had the fire extinguisher so you would not be overcome. When the flames of financial hardship threatened to take you down, you received money you didn’t expect or can’t explain. He was with you. When the fire of reputation caused you to believe you could never have a successful relationship, let alone marriage. Yet here you sit, so many years later, married.

Fire is used to destroy and to purify. You’ve spent enough time in the fire. Since you are not destroyed, you are being purified. God sees tremendous value in you. The challenge now is to see the value in yourself.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth in front of the crowd of onlookers and the king, there could be no doubt. The presence of their Saviour had guarded them from harm. They were kept where others had died. They thrived in an environment created for destruction. They had just shown up the god of the Babylonians and Nebuchadnezzar had no choice but to admit it.

When you are true to God, the God who had kept you, walking out of the fire will become natural for you. The presence of your Savior will cover you in the midst of your fire. And others will have admit that Sally’s God her out of financial difficulty. They will have to admit that Andrews God rectified his marriage. They will have to admit that Delroy’s God changed the schedule so he could keep working.

What can be found for us in the flames? Your freedom can be found in the flames. The Hebrews went in bound, but the Bible says they were loosed in the flames. The fire of trials can free us of insecurities that used to keep us bound. The fire of trials can free us from unfruitful relationships that have us bound. Going through the fire shows who our real friends are. We can be free in the fire.

We can also gain fellowship in the fire. We see relationships strengthen with those who go through with us. Just think of all the people who are connected because of their experiences in school, in fraternities, sororities, & boot camps. Going through the flames of trial had these boys walking together with their LORD!

There is freedom in the flames. There is fellowship in the flames. And there is the Fourth in the flames! The Fourth indeed is the Son of God! The Fourth in the flames provides freedom. The Fourth in the flames provides fellowship. When I know that freedom and fellowship can be wrought through the ministration of the Fourth, then bring on the flames. I’ve got God on my side. He knows what to do in the flames.

Ellen White, “By the deliverance of His faithful servants, the LORD declared that He takes His stand with the oppressed, and rebukes all earthly powers that rebel against the authority of Heaven.”

There are many lessons to be learned from the furnace and we will touch on some in the days to come. For now we can celebrate a God who will bring you out of the flames.

Prayer Activity