Will You Stand?
"Watch, Stand Fast in the Faith; Be Brave, Be Strong."
I Corinthians 16:13
Well, many of us already know the story of the three Hebrew boys that
would not fall down and worship the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. We know that their allegiance and
reverence was to, and for, the Only True and Living God. We know that they Stood when everyone around them fell down,
bowed and worshipped; and that they knew God was able to deliver them from the hand of the King and his command to have
them thrown into, and burned to death; literally torched, in a fiery furnace that was heated "seven" times more than usual.
Here's an excerpt of their conversation after the young men refused to fall and worship and were brought before
the king:
Nebuchadnezzar: "But
if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who
will deliver you from my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered:
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this is the case, our God whom we serve
is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 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."
As the scripture tells us, not only were they not killed in the fiery furnace, "the hair of their head
was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them."Glory to God!!
Because of the faith
and trust Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego put in the Lord, the One True God, whom they served; the Glory
of the Lord was manifested...and as a result, King Nebuchadnezzar spoke saying:
"Blessed be
the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have
frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
"...there is no other God who can deliver like this."
Moreover, the king promoted the three young men in the province of Babylon. Wow, the three young
men were promoted and that was NOT their goal. Their goal was to serve and please God and as a result: they were delivered,
God got the Glory, and then... they were promoted!
Ponder This:
If we would stand; take a blatant, obvious Stand for righteousness today; even
in the things that may seem "trivial" to us; the Glory of the Lord would be revealed, in a HUGE manner in the earth.
When at their crossroad, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego took a Public Stand for God; keeping His commandments(Exodus
20:4), His statutes and His Way, which is righteousness; even knowing it could be to their own death. Oh yea... to them,
it was just that important and it was apparent that they walked in the fear of the Most High God having no fear of man.
Their love and reverence for God was far greater and more important than getting caught up in the "order of the day."
BUT As a result, great signs and wonders were revealed and even the ungodly had no other choice but to give
Our God, the Only Wise God, the Glory. How Magnificent!! And remember, the young men did not "raise
a ruckus" by acting out with folly and contention. No, they did not argue, nor tell the king how terrible he
was. Although they did not concern themselves with offending the king and others around them either. They simply but boldly did
what was right by obeying God and not worshipping or bowing to the gold image.
So while the world around us is bowing in everyway possible; falling down and worshipping
the things of the "cosmos," this world; and unrighteousness seems right, and has become a way of life for many;
will you forsake the way of the world that is so widespread? Will you stand and declare by your actions that
Our God is The God? Will you Stand for righteousness' sake? Will you Stand when confronted
with situations in the workplace? Will you forsake, falling down to or bowing when faced with issues in the home; at school;
at church; with strangers, your family and friends, and your enemies? I declare that we have all faced, and will face
again, situations that call for us to Stand; and so much the more as the Day approaches! What will you do? Will YOU
Stand?
"The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
Proverbs 29:25
"In the fear of the
Lord, there is Strong Confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge; in the fear of the Lord there's a fountain
of life to avoid the snares of death." Proverbs 14:26-27
"...stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved."
Philippians 4:1b
"Therefore
take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:13
