But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.
Daniel 3:18 HCSB
This Scripture passage is a very bold statement made by three young men who were facing deadly persecution for not bowing down to a gold statue. They had been taken captive into a pagan land and were in the service of a pagan king. The king had ordered anyone who failed to bow down to worship this statue when music began to play to be thrown into the furnace. When they failed to do this the king confronted them and asked them, “Who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”
Fortunately, for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego they knew the God who could rescue them from Nebuchadnezzar’s power. They knew that even if they died in that fiery furnace, they would live for eternity in heaven with their Lord.
We are told in Hebrews 11:10 that Abraham, even though he was a very wealthy man never built a house. Instead, he chose to live in tents because he was focused on his forever home. Hebrews 11:9-10 tells us he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Abraham understood that life on earth was temporary. He had an eternity mindset.
Do you have an eternity mindset? I find it really hard to wrap my head around the concepts of eternity and infinity. Eternity is defined as infinite or unending time. Infinity is defined as endless in space, time, concept; impossible to measure or calculate. Can you even comprehend eternity? I know for me, it’s really hard to do. God promises us eternal life. That’s forever.
What we have here on earth is temporary. Does it make any sense that we would destroy our chances of spending eternity in heaven for some type of temporary gain or popularity here on earth? Would you be willing to hold millions of dollars for a couple of days knowing you would spend the rest of your life homeless and penniless?
This is what we do when we choose to live a life that doesn’t honor God. This is what many people in the Bible understood. They understood that life on earth was temporary and fleeting. We are told in James 4:14 that our life is like a mist that vanishes. 1 John 2:17 tells us that the world with all its desires is passing away, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. Isaiah 40:8 tells us flesh is like grass and beauty is like a flower. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of God lasts forever.
Job 14:1-2 says man born of woman is like a flower that withers. He is few of days and full of trouble… He flees like a shadow and continues not.
The things of this world may be appealing. We have a fleshly desire to be thought of well by those around us. It causes us to tend to honor men. I’m sure it may have appeared to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego at the time that if they honored Nebuchadnezzar’s wishes it would make their lives easier, but they weren’t looking at the moment, they were considering eternal consequences.
It may seem easier to go along to get along, but that is a temporary solution that has negative eternal consequences. Think about that for a minute. Eternity is not just a long time, it’s forever. Don’t trade temporary pleasure for an eternity of suffering.
Take a page from Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s playbook. Trust in Him even if it means a physical death here on earth. Glory awaits His children in heaven and that’s forever.
Have a great day!