April 6, 2022
We are confronted with a very big question today: Are you willing to face death rather than renounce your faith? Today, we read in the book of Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three young men defied King Nebuchadnezzar’s command that they bow down in worship of his false god at the sound of any musical instrument. In the king’s livid rage, he cast them into a blazing furnace. When they were not consumed by the fire, he converted to a belief in God. Jesus is asking that those listening to him convert, too. He desires that they turn away from sin and embrace the truth, because the truth will set them free, just as it did for the three men in Daniel … and for Nebuchadnezzar. So, am I willing to turn away and embrace the truth? Or is it easier to continue to worship the other gods of my life—alcohol, gossip, food, or even music—anything that leads me away from the truth, from God? Do I need to die to things in order to live? We are not called to die in the strict sense of that word. Maybe that would be easier. What we are called to do is to die to anything that consumes us (like a fire would) so we have no time for God. Not easy to do, but if we desire to change, help is on the way.