Is your faith fireproof?
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you."
Never doubt for a moment that true faith encounters opposition and demands risk. Often, as it did for the three young men that faced death at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, it comes from the natural man reacting to a spiritual truth in his own prideful way. Nebuchadnezzar had been given a marvelous picture of the history of man through Daniel's interpretation of his dream. However, instead of worshiping the God who so totally controlled the kingdoms of the earth, he built an image to himself--an image that was all gold, not just a head of gold. I have to believe there was some arrogance in that. Faith found itself in battle with self-exaltation, ego, idolatry. And the battle line is always drawn there: Will you serve God or man? Man's power or God's truth? Christianity or humanism? Yes, true faith encounters a choice--a choice with consequences. Bow or burn? No alternatives. It is always so: faith or faithlessness? There is never a choice to do nothing, to straddle the fence. That choice is faithlessness.
What did the three young men believe that so grounded and settled their faith? First, they had faith in God's ability. If He wanted to, He could deliver them from the fiery trial. What is impossible from man's perspective is nothing to omnipotence. The second thing they believed was that He was willing. God doesn't withhold deliverance from us out of spite or mean-spiritedness. He is love. He takes great pleasure in saying "I will" to our requests. The third thing their faith believed was that God was sovereign. Whether God delivered them or not, they would not serve other gods. That is the ultimate test of faith--to trust God to honor the choice I make to serve Him any way He chooses. Why? Because He alone knows what will most assuredly glorify Him and be good for His people. His infinite wisdom acts with eternity in view.
Do I have fireproof faith? Do I believe that God is able, that God is willing, and that God is sovereign? If I choose to believe, to trust, no matter what else He does, He will be with me in the trial, He will control the flames, He will strengthen my faith, and He will use me to glorify Himself. When the heat is on, believe. Jesus never fails!
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you."
Never doubt for a moment that true faith encounters opposition and demands risk. Often, as it did for the three young men that faced death at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, it comes from the natural man reacting to a spiritual truth in his own prideful way. Nebuchadnezzar had been given a marvelous picture of the history of man through Daniel's interpretation of his dream. However, instead of worshiping the God who so totally controlled the kingdoms of the earth, he built an image to himself--an image that was all gold, not just a head of gold. I have to believe there was some arrogance in that. Faith found itself in battle with self-exaltation, ego, idolatry. And the battle line is always drawn there: Will you serve God or man? Man's power or God's truth? Christianity or humanism? Yes, true faith encounters a choice--a choice with consequences. Bow or burn? No alternatives. It is always so: faith or faithlessness? There is never a choice to do nothing, to straddle the fence. That choice is faithlessness.
What did the three young men believe that so grounded and settled their faith? First, they had faith in God's ability. If He wanted to, He could deliver them from the fiery trial. What is impossible from man's perspective is nothing to omnipotence. The second thing they believed was that He was willing. God doesn't withhold deliverance from us out of spite or mean-spiritedness. He is love. He takes great pleasure in saying "I will" to our requests. The third thing their faith believed was that God was sovereign. Whether God delivered them or not, they would not serve other gods. That is the ultimate test of faith--to trust God to honor the choice I make to serve Him any way He chooses. Why? Because He alone knows what will most assuredly glorify Him and be good for His people. His infinite wisdom acts with eternity in view.
Do I have fireproof faith? Do I believe that God is able, that God is willing, and that God is sovereign? If I choose to believe, to trust, no matter what else He does, He will be with me in the trial, He will control the flames, He will strengthen my faith, and He will use me to glorify Himself. When the heat is on, believe. Jesus never fails!
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