The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is like something from a movie.

Three men refuse to bow to a king’s golden image, trusting in God to save them from a fiery furnace.

In the end, God shows up in a mighty way.

He not only saves them from the fire, but also joins them right there in the middle of it.

And Nebuchadnezzar, who just minutes before had taunted them for their belief in any kind of god who could rescue them from death, was now praising God and threatening to take the life of anyone who said anything against Him.

When you read the story carefully, though, there’s five words early in the story that, if missed, diminish the depth of this powerful moment in history.

When the three men are brought before the king and accused of defying his order to bow down to his ninety-foot image of gold, they are given one more chance to fall to their knees.

Right there in front of the king and his men, there was no hiding.

There was no chance to slip behind a wall while everyone else worshiped, hoping no one would notice.

No, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were center stage and their performance was the main event in town.

In this defining moment, their faith was put to the test.

Some may have been tempted to simply bow, asking God to forgive them as they pretended to appease the king.

Some may have been tempted to run.

Some may have been tempted to come up with an excuse for not being able to go to the ground,

but these three men stuck together and claimed God’s power to save them.

Even that isn’t the most amazing part of the story to me, though.

It’s what they say AFTER they claim God’s saving power that really gets me.

It’s what they believe in the very depth of their soul about worshiping anything but their Lord and King.

In Daniel 3, when the king offers them one more chance to worship the statue or die, this is their reply,

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in the matter.  If we are throw in the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not , we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of god you have set up.”

EVEN IF HE DOES NOT

Today, I don’t know what you’re facing.

But I do know this.

God is there EVEN IF HE DOES NOT answer your prayer in the exact way you desire.

He is there EVEN IF HE DOES NOT make life easy.

He is there EVEN IF HE DOES NOT cause your life to make sense.

He is there EVEN IF HE DOES NOT speak into your chaos in the way you desire.

Today, trust Him EVEN IF HE DOES NOT…………………..

You may feel like you’ve been thrown into the fire, but I promise He’s right there too.