I have always admired firefighters. Every day, they put their lives on the line, ready to run into the flames, smoke, and crumbling buildings to rescue others. They run toward what most of us run away from. That kind of courage is inspiring. The crazy part is that we normally don’t think about them until something is on fire. They are like unseen heroes, ready to step in and save the day when they are called.
Just like how firefighters rush into blazing fires to save lives, there is a story in the book of Daniel about God doing the very same thing. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young men who served under King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. The king had built a giant golden statue and made a law that everyone had to bow down and worship it. But these three men refused to bow because they were faithful and loyal to the God of Israel.
When the king heard about their defiance, he was furious. He gave them one last chance to bow down or be thrown into a fiery furnace. Their response is one of the boldest statements of faith in the entire Bible:
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it… 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 gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17–18)
That takes some courage. God can save us, but even if He doesn’t, we are still choosing Him. So they were thrown into the fire, and the heat was turned up seven times hotter than usual. The fire was so intense that it even killed the guards who tossed them in. (Daniel 3:22)
However, when the king looked inside the furnace, he was shocked. Instead of seeing three men burning alive, he saw four men, unharmed, and one of them looked like a “son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:25)
There are moments in our lives when it seems like we are constantly going from one fire to another. Whether it is a fire at our job, in our family, or in our school, the pressure can feel like it gets seven times hotter than anything we’ve ever faced before. And in these moments, it can be easy to wonder where God is. But it is important to remember that in this story, God didn’t stop the fire, He stepped into it with them.
God never promised that we wouldn’t face the flames, but He did promise that we wouldn’t face them alone. John 15:13 says, “There is no greater love than this, than to lay one’s life down for one’s friends.” God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, into our world. He stepped into our mess, our pain, our shame, and our sin and laid down His life so that we could live the abundant life.
So the next time the enemy tries to use the fires of life to destroy you, remind him that no matter what, God, the ultimate firefighter, is on your side. He is in it with you and fighting for you, you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:14)
The Bigger Picture: Just like how firefighters lay down their lives to save others, Jesus laid down His life for us so we can live the abundant life, full of joy and peace, even in the middle of the flames.
The Bigger Picture 