Standing Up Against This World

Commentary

The Ungodly Demand

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were friends of Daniel, lived in the captivity of Babylon, in a land that was extremely ungodly. They were tested greatly for their faith in God. Like them, we are now living in an increasingly ungodly world, and being an obedient follower of Christ is becoming more and more difficult, as we are constantly being tested for our faith in Jesus.

What was once relegated mostly to countries outside of the West is now coming full force to Europe, Canada, the United States, and others. What once manifested in dictatorial edicts to bow to the leaders of communist or fascist regimes is now manifesting into cultural and government edicts to bow to the LGBTQ agenda, to the mutilation and murder of children through transgender ideology and abortion, and supporting laziness and lawlessness through socialist agendas.

This world wants us to reduce and reject our sincerely held belief in Christ and to approve of their fantasy lifestyles, their love of murder, money, sex, and so on. Perhaps you’ve recently been mandated to take a vaccine or risk losing your job; maybe told to support LGBTQ or be sued; or perhaps demanded to pay for abortion or lose insurance coverage for your company and face fines. This is how the enemy operates, using fear, “You do as I demand or face punishment”.

These situations are happening more and more often, and the intent is to scare you away from Christ and to make you do the bidding of Satan. If you’re living for the Lord as you should be, then do not be surprised when the world comes to challenge you. Be ready!

Commentary

The Wicked Trap

Some of the citizens of Babylon knew that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were Jews who worshipped the Lord. Not content with the undoubtedly uncomfortable situation that the believing Jews were placed in by the edict, these wicked people sought out to trap them in order to make sure they got caught breaking the edict. That kind of behavior comes from a wicked heart that is filled with outright hatred for the God of the Bible.

We’re experiencing more and more of this kind of hatred today, as followers of Jesus. Prideful people who are lost in their sins can arrive at a place so extreme in their rejection of Jesus that they not only practice their sins with joy but demand that you completely and openly affirm it and accept it. Some will even work tirelessly to destroy your life if you don’t. Ultimately, Satan is behind all of this; the battle is spiritual, and Satan hates you and me. He will not be happy until he has completely destroyed us, but if you are in Christ, then you win in the end; the war has been won by Jesus.

Understand that these edicts are all part of this spiritual battle we face and will come from various places, from so-called laws passed by ungodly governments to mob-driven cultural pressure, company HR rules, unfit school administrators and teachers, and even possibly from people you know very well. The more you are living for the Lord, the more you become a target of those who hate Him. Stand strong and don’t let fear overwhelm you.

Commentary

The Forced Compliance

After being set up by those wicked people, these 3 men were made to face the king directly, who then challenged them to follow his law or be executed by burning alive. I think we can all agree that this is a very scary situation; no doubt this will set off anxiety and fear like maybe you’ve never experienced before. When this happens to you, what are you going to do? Are you going to stand firm in your faith or will you fold like a paper sack? What if you’re told to do something against your conscience or lose your job? Or, use these pronouns or be kicked out of school? You must stand firm, know that the Lord is with you, and it will be His strength that you battle with, not your own. Compromising shows the wicked of this world that they have power over you and could even look like friendliness toward their wicked agendas. We are not to be friends of this world.

When you face the fire, don’t be afraid; stand in faith, for the Lord is your Shepherd who will guide you and put your enemies in their place.

Commentary

The Godly Defiance

In their fiery trial, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to stand in faith and not to bow to the king or his false gods. They were ready to endure in their love for the Lord, even if it meant that their end was coming quickly and in a horrible manner. They didn’t necessarily expect God to rescue them, but rather they understood that walking in faith and obedience to the Lord means staying in a position of protection and blessing. In that, we have the hope of eternity. As Peter so wonderfully said when Jesus asked if the disciples were going to abandon Him:

When we know the Truth, which is the Gospel of Jesus, how could we ever give any allegiance back to this world? We cannot; it’s far better to face whatever this world wants to hit us with than to deny the God who has bought and paid for your soul. What do you have to lose in this world? Your job? Your home? Your life? I can tell you nothing, because there is nothing more important than Jesus. And in your radical obedience to Him, you will find the Lord’s blessing upon your life. He is the only Provider that you need, who is able to close doors that no one can open and open doors that no one can close.

Commentary

The Awesome Deliverance

Unsurprisingly, Nebuchadnezzar did not like being stood up to and defied. He threw all three men into that scorching furnace. A fire that was so hot that it killed the men who threw Shadrach and his two friends into it. That is a faith that is bold, radical even, no doubt their hearts were pounding, but they knew that the Lord is far more valuable than anything you could gain on this earth.

They endured until what looked like the end. Then Jesus showed up. God came in when it all looked hopeless and rescued them from the fire. God has a way of waiting until what seems like the last moment or even when it seems too late to act. But He knows exactly when it is the right time to act.

Never bow to any evil of this world, even if the situation looks dire. The God who created all things can save you from anything. It’s through such trials that your faith is hardened, helping you to walk, not in your own understanding, but by the Holy Spirit, Who is preparing you for the day when you will see your Savior face-to-face. Understand, that day might just come at the tail end of a fiery trial — and what a way to enter into eternity, standing tall for the One who gave it all for you.