3 Boys Stood
(Based on Daniel 3: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego)
By Shelley M. Reed
THE CROWD ON THAT UNIQUE DAY. There was everyone, the high and mighty as well as the small and ordinary. The rich. The poor. The middle class. The named and no-named. Every government official. The Princes. The Prefects. The Governors. The Counselors. The Treasurers. The Justices. The Magistrates. The Entrepreneurs. Babylonian Hollywood. Every people group and language. Everyone was present. Everyone.
BUT in that time and place, they all looked the same. They ALL BOWED. Like a set of falling dominoes or a collapsing tidal wave.
But not those three boys.
The crowd observed a full-blown miracle, but didn’t EXPERIENCE IT. The searing and sizzling oven roasted two powerful officials like charcoaled marshmallows over a burning fire yet left three youth cool as a cucumber, enjoying a pleasant, refreshing walk with a loyal, supernatural friend. Their uncharred hair blowing in the wind. Their clothes free of the sooty scent.
The crowd walked away only with a story to tell. They left unchanged. Camouflaged. Luke-warm. A slave to the status quo. Normal. Ordinary. Mediocre. But more sobering was the fact that they returned home with a dead, useless god hidden in their pockets only to be put on a dusty shelf and polished occasionally as they saw fit.
But not those three boys.
Their faith was unwavering. Three young men that resolved to worship El ELYON, the MOST HIGH GOD.
They boldly trusted.
Their stature was colossal. 3 Goliaths. 3 Titanics. 3 Oaks of Righteousness displaying His glory.
They courageously stood.
Their presence was fluorescent. 3 cardinals on a naked tree. 3 Neon lights in a sea of ebony. 3 gleaming stars broadcasting His radiance.
They heroically shined.
Their voices were deafening. Only three that declared,
“WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GODS or WORSHIP THE GOLDEN IMAGE YOU SET UP.”
They emphatically proclaimed.
They believed He was faithful and true even if death was eminent.
THE RESULT…
They experienced the miracle.
They walked free, unbound, and untouched by the fire.
Their faith made 1000 degree heat look like a frozen popsicle.
THE CROWD TODAY. There is everyone. The high and mighty as well as the small and ordinary. The rich. The poor. The middle class. The named and no-named. The abuser. The technology addict. The gamers and the bookworms. The handsome athletes and beauty queens. The outcasts and the in-crowd. The politicians. The CEOs. The prestigious. The type A. The do-gooders.
And maybe me? The Christian.
But now, in this time and place, they are all the same. They bow. To culture. To fitting in. Like a set of falling dominoes or a collapsing tidal wave.
But not you, maybe?
The crowd today also walks away only with a story to tell. Unchanged. Camouflaged. Luke-warm. A slave to the status quo. Normal. Ordinary. Mediocre. But more sobering is the fact that they live our lives with dead, useless gods in our pockets…money, fame, comfort, schedules, busyness. Running, striving and going nowhere…only to lie in a dusty grave someday asking…
“Why?”
Do we see miracles but choose not to believe? Are we engulfed in the searing and sizzling fire of life never experiencing that Jesus can be with even there? Is he our personal, loyal, and supernatural friend? Is our uncharred hair blowing in the wind? Are our clothes free of the sooty scent of sin?
That day, Nebuchadnezzar saw from a distance, through faithless eyes and a proud heart what the God of those three boys was capable of doing. Something he could not give. Freedom. Security. Protection. Love. Life.
No, many will never experience it. What? A living and vibrant relationship with the MOST HIGH GOD.
So what about you?
Will you trust?
Will you stand?
Will you shine?
Will you proclaim?
If so, then not only is a miracle waiting, but so is a relationship with the Most High God!
Exodus 14:13
And Mose said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD,
which he will work for you today.
I needed to read this today… so, thank you, my friend. It’s a powerful visual– at a most opportune moment– to remind me and everyone else to STAND FIRM… even when– no, ESPECIALLY WHEN– you feel like the only one who is standing. Exodus 14:13 indeed says to stand firm… and 14:14 says to stand STILL. This is a true act of surrender– to stand firm and then stand still to see how THE LORD chooses to handle what concerns me and you today. Isaiah 30:15 reminds us that– “in quietness and trust is your strength.” You don’t have to trust your circumstances– or the people involved in them. You can trust THE LORD– always.
Love you girlie and so glad this was an encouragement to you. I know you have felt the heat for awhile! Hang in there! I love that our Lord stands with us in the fire!
Love it! Thank you, Shelley! You are daily in my prayers! Asking the Lord to bring you a whole bunch of “eternal appointments” which you don your “neon” shoes!
Thanks girlie! Love you!