While reading my Bible the other morning, I came across a story that filled my head with questions. It seriously challenged me and what I believed about my faith. It was the story of three men who were told to do something-something they didn’t believe was right. It got me wondering about the world. In a time where it’s so easy to just ‘go with the flow.’ How many of us would have the courage to stand up for what is right? If you witnessed a major injustice, would you speak up, or would you stay quiet? What about the children? As parents and mentors, we often talk to our kids about bullying. We tell them to ‘stand up for what is right’ and ‘be brave’. But what does that look like? Are we living out the kind of courage we want our children to have?
It’s easy to talk about doing the right thing. It is, however, much harder to actually do it when you’re the only one standing. Maybe you have already answered those questions in your head. Let’s see if your answers change or the lines start to blur as I get further into the story.
Daniel 3:8-18 (NKJV)
This is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were Jewish believers, in exile, who had recently been promoted over the affairs of the province of Babylon. In this province, King Nebuchadnezzar had a very large golden image erected. He sent out a decree that all the people were to bow down and worship it. Out of, I’m assuming, jealousy and a general dislike for the Jews; a group of men went to the king. They told him that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not bow to the idol. “In rage and fury” (vs. 13), the king ordered the men be brought to him. King Nebuchadnezzar gave the men one last chance to bow down to the idol. If they refused, they would be “cast immediately into the midst of a burning, fiery furnace” (vs. 15). As a direct challenge to their faith, the king questioned. He asked, “And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” (vs. 15).
The Brave Statement
The first part of their statement likely amped up the king’s already seething rage. They stated that they “have no need to answer you (him) in this matter” (vs. 16). They were, essentially, dismissing the king and what he asked as irrelevant and not worth their time. They had full confidence in God’s power. They told the king that the God they serve “is able to deliver us (them) from the burning, fiery furnace.” He will also deliver them from the king’s hands (vs 17).
“But if not”
Daniel 3:18 (NKJV) starts off with “But if not”. These three, simple words are the ultimate declaration of unconditional faith. They are the highest form of adoration, reverence, and glory one can give God.
- It is the trust without strings. Many people follow God with a deal in mind. “If I do”, such and such, “then You will give me a good life.” “But if not” blows the deal out of the water. Those three men didn’t not worship the idol because they were expecting something. They had no presumption of being rewarded by God. They did it because it was the right thing to do. They chose to be faithful with no strings attached.
- It shows God has divine authority as Lord. “But if not” acknowledges that God has the divine authority to be called Lord. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that God could save them-He had the power. With those words they also acknowledged that He might not-meaning it’s not in His plan. They submitted to God’s will, even in the face of death. This emphasizes God’s ultimate sovereignty (having the highest power or authority over something)over all things. True faith doesn’t tell God what to do; it submits to His plan and what He chooses to do.
- It is a two-fold deliverance. The three men knew that God would deliver them from the hands of the king. Regardless of what happened in the fire, the king would lose and God would win. They would be delivered:
from the fire-a physical miracle where they lived
OR
through the fire-where they died but were delivered from the king’s hands and into God’s eternal presence.
”But if not”, you may have noticed, is very similar to “Your will be done” and statements like it.
Matthew 26:42 (NKJV) “Your will be done”-Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Matthew 6:10 (NKJV) “Your will be done”-Jesus and the Lord’s Prayer
Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) “it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”
James 4:15 (AMP) “If the Lord wills”
1 Peter 4:2 (RSV) “By the will of God”
John 6:38 (AMP) “to do the will and purpose of Him who sent Me”
It is an honor to say to God “But if not.” However, you shouldn’t say it without truly meaning it. You must be faithful enough to trust Him with the outcome. It has to be a rock solid belief from the core of your being. There can be no sitting on the fence-pick a side. It is black and white-there is no gray area. You have to be absolutely positive that that’s what you want. In spite of the consequences, you have to know where you stand and believe that God is doing what’s best. God works all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)(NIV). He loves us with a love that cannot be understood. Therefore, He will never forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6)(NIV). He will never hurt us (Psalm 121:7)(NIV). He will never do bad things to us (James 1:17)(NIV). “But if not”-believe it, say it, and mean it. Our lives will forever be changed when we are living in the will of God.
The Final Response
”But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (vs. 18).
This final response is the men making their decision public knowledge.
- No One Last Chance. The king gave the men one more chance to bow down and worship the idol. Oddly enough, King Nebuchadnezzar did not outright accuse Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of not bowing to the idol. In verse 14, he asked them “Is it true?” This could be looked at two ways. He may have not believed the group of men who accused the Jews. This is not likely as it says he was filled with “rage and fury” (vs. 13). More likely, he was simply giving them one last chance. The king had promoted them so maybe he felt that the men owed him something-a sort of appreciation. Or maybe he didn’t want to look foolish in front of his people. He didn’t want questions about his decision making to surface. Either way, by the men saying “But if not…we do not serve…nor will we worship” (vs.18), they were making a life changing decision. They were telling the king: ‘Don’t wait for us to change our minds once the fire gets close. Our decision is final. We don’t need another opportunity.’
- They refused “The Deal”. Many of us with a “deal” mindset would question our faith. We might think, ‘If God isn’t going to save me, why should I stay faithful to Him?’ The three were saying that their loyalty wasn’t based on a give and take deal for protection. They were doing it because it was right. They were choosing to die as faithful worshipers of the One true God. They refused to live in sin by worshiping an idol.
- The ultimate “No”. The “But if not” statement in verse 18 was their way of saying ‘There is no scenario-in life or death-where we will bow down to a statue.’ God’s plan could have been death. They wanted the king to know that his threats had failed. Their hearts remained unchanged. They were letting him know, even if death was the certain outcome, they refused to worship any other god. Regardless of what happened next, they were standing firm in the Lord.
So, I ask you again, Would you stand up for what is right? Would you intervene if you witnessed an major injustice? Do the negative, hurtful words of others cause you to hide your faith? Are you living out the kind of courage you want children to have? What if that courage cost you your life? We may think that we would never be put in that situation because of all the freedoms we have. But, there are Christians in other countries who are tortured and even killed. This is because of the very faith many of us hide or take for granted. Look at the state of the world today. And it’s only getting worse. I don’t believe it’s out of the realm of possibility that one day we, too, might face persecution or even martyrdom for our faith. While it may be a sobering thought, it’s important to remember the sacrifices that could come with living out our faith. As believers, we are called to stand firm in our convictions, even in the face of persecution, and to trust that God is with us through every trial.
Takeaways
Daniel 3:8-18 (NKJV)teaches us that true faith is about doing the right thing regardless of the cost. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego showed us that we should never compromise our core values to “fit in” with everyone else. Especially when we are pressured to do something we know is wrong. Their story is a powerful reminder that God is fully capable of changing every situation. However, we should not make our commitment to Him dependent upon getting a specific outcome. By standing firm and saying “But if not”, they demonstrated integrity. They showed us that it’s about choosing to be faithful because God is worthy. Ultimately, the story teaches us to trust God and His character more than our circumstances.
Encouragement
Now days, it can feel like there is constant pressure to just “go with the flow” because it ‘reduces stress’. We are told “don’t rock the boat” or draw attention to yourself. Because of this, we keep quiet when we see something wrong, especially if everyone else is keeping quiet. I know, it’s hard to ‘stand up’ when you are the only person standing. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remind us that true integrity is standing up for what is right. It involves standing for what is true, even when it’s scary. Having their kind of courage doesn’t mean being fearless. It means deciding if your beliefs and values are more important than the comforts of this world. When we choose to do the right thing simply because it’s right, we won’t demand a guarantee that everything will work out perfectly. We will find a strength and courage that no one can take from us. This coming year, let’s strive to stand firm in our convictions. Let’s trust that even in the most difficult situations, staying true to ourselves and to God is the best move.
Heavenly Father, glory and honor to You forever. I pray for the readers of our blog. I pray for blessings in their lives and that what we write will touch their hearts. Please give them the strength to separate themselves from this world and stand strong in their faith. Give them the courage to do what is right-just because it is right, without expectations. Let them stand up, with You, against the injustice in the world. Give them perseverance in times of struggle and a fearlessness to face things head on. Help them to trust You enough to say and truly mean “but if not” in all situations. In Jesus’ precious and holy name I pray. Amen.
Let’s remember that true courage comes from trusting in God, no matter what challenges we face. The three men’s story has been inspiring people in their faith for centuries. May it continue to inspire us and generations to come.