When the flame and heat are on, remember you are not alone.

 

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25. NIV.

I do not need to tell you sometimes life gets harder, doesn’t it? You know it with your experiences. Daniel, a young Jewish man life was distinguishably harder being a captive in a foreign country filled with idols and idol worshippers. However, in the middle of a big city called Babylon, the center of the world in those days, filled with idols and worship of idols, he made up his mind to stand firm for the one true God-the God of Israel- who revealed Himself in the pages of the Scripture, called the Bible.

They decided to place Daniel and his three friends in a seven times hotter furnace. The king ordered the soldiers to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (by the way these were old Hebrew names). The furnace was made extremely hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took them to the flames. These three men fell into the blazing furnace firmly tied.

King Nebuchadnezzar was watching and in amazement, he leaped on his feet and asked his advisors “weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They said certainly, your majesty. Then the king said, “ Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” King knew for sure that the fourth one was different and divine in his appearance. The best he could explain from his idol background was what he said- the fourth looks like a son of the gods.

Beloved, we know the fourth one was not a son of the gods, but he was the Son of God. You see Jesus was in existence before his incarnation and coming into this world to die for our sins in our place. This was the pre-incarnated Son of God – Jesus Christ- who was walking with them when they were placed in the flame and heat. We know the existence of Jesus Christ did not begin at the time of his human birth in Bethlehem. Colossians 1:17 says, “He (Jesus) is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.”

Dear one, is fire on in your life? Are you in flames? In your fire and flame, when the heat is seven times hotter, remember, you are not alone. In your fire, you would never walk alone if you have the Son of God, Jesus Christ, in your life. Typically, it is not in your joyful and pleasant times, but it was in your heat times, he likes to walk more closely with you. Right in the middle of your heat and pain. That is why many of the most beautiful praise and worship songs and hymns came out of people’s fiery times. Those hymns and their words still give us divine light in our daily life.

Somewhere I read a quote by an unknown author. It says, “Be willing to walk alone. Many who started with you won’t finish with you.” It is a sad tone because it bruises and breaks inside. It is true human support and presence can end as life goes on. However, do you know what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, promised? “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20(b). Praise God! Remember, you are not alone because Jesus promised: “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I can trust your hand fully because you were with Daniel and his friends when they were placed in blazing fire. You walked around in the fire with them. In my needs and trials, you said: “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” I know you are with me. Help and protect me with your divine and strong hand on me. I believe in Jesus Christ because I know the eternal Son of God came into this world to pay for my sins and shortcomings to make me perfect in God’s sight. He is my savior. Please save and guide me every day. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”