Conviction Brings Great Reward

How do you stand for God when everyone else is falling for lies? That is the most important question we can ask of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. The only three people in the world who stood for God at a time of global confusion. The world ebbs and flows into this sort of state, where at times people are utterly fooled into following nonsense. I consider the COVID-19 lockdown period one such time. I'm sorry if that offends, but it's truer now than ever. We were lied to, and few stood up for the truth because the consequences for doing so were somewhat severe. 

It doesn't get more severe than burning to death. 

Daniel 3:8–12 (ESV) Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 9 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 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.”

We aren't talking about the loss of a job, or the loss of friends, or standing in society alone. We are talking about the death of one of the worst kinds, into a fiery furnace, alive. 

You know you're beginning to impact the system of lies when the response is anger. 

Daniel 3:13 (ESV) Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.

Upon further threats, these men refused and uttered one of the greatest statements of conviction you will ever read:

Daniel 3:16–18 (ESV) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 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. 18 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.”

We know about faith that believes in God for answers. But this is faith that believes in God when there's no answer. I love that line, "But if not", as if to state clearly, whether we live or suffer and die for our God, we will not worship your image. 

Their conviction was not celebrated. In fact, it was met with more conflict. 

Daniel 3:19 (ESV) Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.

True faith in the living God will be met in such ways at various times in history. And yet it is utterly necessary for the truth to prevail. We need a few who will stand for truth because those few will make a worldwide difference, as was experienced here. 

We note three events that this conviction produced:

First, the Lord was visible through their witness.

Daniel 3:24–25 (ESV) Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Your convictions make God visible. Don't be afraid and never be ashamed. The way to impact the world is to reject the world's ways. 

Second, we see the conviction impress their former enemy.

Daniel 3:28 (ESV) Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

You never know what God will do with genuine conviction, but to see it, you have to walk through the fire. 

Third, we see the king defend and promote these three men.

Daniel 3:29–30 (ESV) Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Now, this instance of promotion was sudden, as everything happens in this chapter. For many, these experiences of favor after the testing by fire are much further down the road. Yet they are necessary. God can turn your worst threat into a setup for your success. Never forget, He's ultimately in charge of whoever is seemingly in charge of you. Conviction proves you know it, and others will see it.