Even If . . . Examined and Explained - November 17, 2009
Dan. 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "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."
I remember hearing the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, as a young boy, and imagining myself transported to that same extraordinary crossroad. I doubt I picked up on the details or nuances that we take notice of today, but I think I knew I was hearing about truly extraordinary men, and something stirred inside of me that made me want to be that kind man.
A man who doesn’t need to defend himself:
Verse 16: "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
What freedom rings from the hearts behind these words. I couldn’t begin to count the times I have attempted to defend myself. I’m not prepared to say that we should never defend ourselves under any circumstances, but when I look at the account of Jesus being accused by the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilot, I am compelled by the power of His selfless defense. The freedom He expresses wordlessly, speaks to such a deep strength of character. It is extremely rare, when defending myself bears any good fruit at all. Just the opposite actually! Isn’t it best when we simply let the convictions of our lived–out faith, back up our choices and our character? This is the freedom I see in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and I want it!
A man who trusts God with his life:
Verse 17 continues, “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.”
Do I believe God this much … enough to trust Him with my very life? These guys did, and I know faith like this doesn’t just show up mysteriously one day. It is cultivated and grown. These men made trusting God, their way of life. No one trusts God in the big things of life, who hasn’t first trusted Him in the little things. It is easy to say we trust God, but this extreme crisis is the “rubber meeting the road”. This is the real, raw, pure form of trust, and I want it … minus the furnace!
A man who says, “Even if”:
Now verse 18: “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."
Here, from my perspective, is the heart of the treasure found in these 3 Scriptures. “Even if”! The recklessness of it! The commitment and passion … the unconditional resolve to keep God, First Love! We live in a world where our love, gifts, our service, friendships, marriages, commitments, etc., are very conditional. What if our relationship toward God mirrored His relationship toward us? He loves us unconditionally, and has made a New Covenant with His people, through Christ. What if, as Christ followers, our lives reflected this unconditional covenant to this most holy union, you and Christ? This kind of relationship is not dependent on feelings, or experiences. It doesn’t say, “If you do this for me, then I will love you back.” No. A covenant says, “Even if I don’t feel you, or see you, or hear you, or experience you the way I want to, or get the answer I prayed for … I won’t turn from you.”
Is there a crisis in your life today? Every crisis in life will require varied responses and actions, to be sure, but perhaps the message here is less about what we resolve to do, and more about who we resolve to be. Our character and who we are, with shine out in every situation, no matter how extreme, or minor.
Do you need to defend yourself today? Can you trust God with the details and the outcome? Can you say, “Even if He does not …”, to the challenges before you, today? These are tumultuous times and we need an unconditional resolve to passionately love Christ and trust Him to carry and inspire us through the season before us. To take Him at His Word, and really live as one loved by the True Lover! That’s what He’s doing for you right now through His Spirit, and He will not stop until He completes the good work He has begun in you. He is utterly faithful to His covenant of love. Trust Him to make you faithful too … even if!
Tim Lemmens