A revelation was given just before I reached Mabel’s house to practice and lead worship for cell group. Daniel 3 – The story of King Nebuchadnezzar and the 3 men being Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego
King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image which everyone must bow down to worship when the music was played. But the 3 men refused and stood firm to worship no other gods except God. Out of anger, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered people to make the fiery furnace 7 times hotter than the usual and threw the 3 men into it. Anyone who came near the furnace died because of the extreme heat. The 3 men survived the heat and found a certain other man with them who looked like the Son of God.
Often, when we go through what we deem as hell on earth, we pray and fast for a miracle, for hell to feel more heavenly. Sometimes God doesn’t work this way. Instead of taking away the heat or making it smaller, He allows us to go through it but we're never alone as His promises will stay true. “He will never leave us nor forsake us.”
Sometimes, we ask ourselves “Why the need to go through this hardship? Why put ourselves in this position to feel aggrieved? Why glorifying God has to go through so much more than others?” As much as a simple answer “We love God and God loves us” satisfies these doubts, another answer would be “to walk alongside with God.”
In the presence of heat, God will never leave us and He will walk alongside with us. He will make sure no evil or harm will ever fall on us as He protects us from the crown of our head to the sole of our feet. And He will make sure we come out of the heat victorious and strong which brings glory to Himself.
Ian shared what Dr Robi said - the understanding and experience of God’s goodness and love for us will be the foundation of how we react during adversity and tragedy. So true. No one can help you experience God’s goodness and love except for you to experience it yourself. And no one can take it away.
Walking in the fiery furnace demonstrates God’s love for us. He will not let us go through it ourselves and He will feel how we feel. As much as character instead of comfort is concern, it is vital to go through fire. So you don’t have to look down and see the small details, instead look up and view the full picture.
Ephesians 3:19
"and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God."