Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.

Daniel 3:8,12

Most of us know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  They lived in a time and place where compromise was accepted and expected.  But when King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that all people bow to his golden image, men accused these three by saying, “These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

One Last Chance

King Nebuchadnezzar gave the three Hebrews another chance to get with the program, but they still refused to compromise. The three were unified in their stance and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

The key here is the simple phrase that begins verse 18 – “But if not…”

We have the advantage of knowing how the story ends, but these three young men did not. They faced a certain death sentence if they did not comply and yet they refused to compromise their faith. They were determined to stand in a bow down world.

Respond:

None of us are likely to face a firing squad for refusing to compromise our faith, but it could cost us a job, a promotion, a relationship, a business deal, a sale. Standing firm in our faith can cost us in our day to day lives. So How many of us have decided deep down that by God’s grace we will stand no matter what?

It’s a serious question that deserves a serious answer, don’t you agree?