"But if Not, ..... What Then?"

Daniel 3:16-18:  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

 

This is one of my favorite texts in the Bible, and the basis of a sermon which I love to preach!  The king of Babylon had ordered everyone to worship a golden image of himself whenever certain music was played.  The music served as a kind of summons to worship the image.  These three Hebrew children refused to worship the golden image, even though they knew that those who refused to worship the image would be thrown into a fiery furnace and would no doubt meet certain death.

 

This passage of Scripture has come to mind often as I have watched developments in the Middle East, especially in Iraq.  Numerous relief workers, journalists, business people, and even military personnel have been seized by Islamic militants.  They have been dragged before cameras and, under horrific torture, have said just about anything the Moslem captors wanted them to say--condemning western governments, begging for their own release, urging their leaders to give into terrorist demands, and even claiming to be converts to Islam.

 

Our military used to have a strict code of discipline which directed soldiers to give nothing more than "name, rank, and serial number" if captured.  That was changed some years ago.  Perhaps we cannot expect people to withstand the brutal torture of terrorists who would even advocate suicide bombings themselves, and who think nothing of chopping off the heads of the innocent. On the other hand, no one can truly be "forced" to say something he doesn't believe.  There's always a choice.  Of course, that choice may result in death.  But what about the signers of the Declaration of Independence who pledged their "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor" to preserve the republic?

 

It is hard to be too critical of those who say almost anything with the hope of preserving their lives.  I find myself wondering how I would hold up under such pressure.  Would I whine and cry and beg my government to capitulate to the demands of terrorists?  Would I be willing to affirm prepared statements critical of my government and dishonoring to my nation?  Would I even, God forbid, claim a false conversion to the Islamic faith?

 

I would hope that my patriotism, my Christian faith,  and my commitment to the belief in freedom under God would prevent me from being a coward or from denying my Lord.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego knew that one way or the other, they would be delivered from king Nebuchadnezzar--either in life or in death.  They knew that God was more powerful than any earthly king or the threats of any tyrant.  They also were humble enough to recognize that they might have to endure physical death, that the will of God might be different from their own desires.  Either way, these three men would be true to their God and to their beliefs.

 

Of course, they were delivered from the furnace and lived to serve God many more years on this earth; but that's really not the most important part of the story.  The most important aspect of this chapter in Daniel is that these men were determined to remain faithful, no matter what happened to them.  

 

What about us?  Will we be true to our biblical principles as we go through our daily tasks?  Will we be willing to submit to the rule of God in our lives, even if things  don't turn out the way we want them to?

 

We may never face the possibility of torture by Moslem extremists or crazed killers such as those who terrorized that Colorado high school several years ago; but ask yourself this question:  If someone was holding a gun to your head, demanding that you claim a false conversion or that you deny the name of Jesus, what would you do?  Would you rationalize?  Would you make excuses?  Or would you be like these three men of faith in Daniel 3:16-18.  God is able to deliver us in times of crisis;  but if He chooses to do otherwise, what then?