Forget 911: Just Let It Burn and Be Sure God is With You
Twitter: @Talktolia
“…even when fear threatens, faith should be maintained. It might be a step towards an unexpected promotion…”
Without underestimating the danger, the lethal severity of fires, the frenzy of 911 calls (for countries that are blessed with access to such emergency services), there’re still fires that happen in life which could be avoided, endured or even ignored.
I am most interested in the last two categories of fires, those that can be endured or ignored because they couldn’t be avoided; those that usually come uninvited but that burn without consuming the target.
THE GREATEST FIRE DRAMA EVER?
What comes to mind when asked what’s the most memorable fire you can remember? To me this has got nothing to do with the recent serial California fires [our prayers remain with those affected], neither do I think back to the biggest inferno or neighbourhood arson post-Christ-era human eyes have ever witnessed … the one that holds me spellbound each time I read about it is found in the bible.
Until they came out unharmed, cheated death, smoke-free, brave Babylonian preachers Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego even with all the faith they had in the power of their God, could’ve never imagined they were destined to live again; they could’ve never imagined one could burn yet not get consumed; neither I would think had they ever imagined having faith would involve martyrdom (Daniel: 3).
Certainly, these daring praying brothers were not the only ones dismayed at the royal premises of King Nebuchadnezzar after the scary visit into the burning furnace. Like other miracles that science has been unable to (dis)prove, a fire encounter is not one that could ever leave us without a souvenir. Even when someone survives a deadly fire there are usually grim lifetime reminders that leave them with scars in their memories each time they look at the scars on their bodies.
But how could a blazing furnace never consume an object? Well, it did consume but not when it was intended to. Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t believe that these three stubborn men would prefer an “unseen” God over the glamorous golden image of a god that he worshipped. They were ready to die for their God than to stay alive and worship an idol. Even as they faced death, they were still sure their God would deliver them. (Daniel 3:16-18). What Nebuchadnezzar was yet to learn is that though the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was invisibility, He is also invincible.
Meanwhile God on the other hand was pleased by the unwavering faith of His three faithful servants and did not only make Himself visible but also made a dramatic appearance in the middle of the furnace to deliver Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The magnitude of the burning furnace was such that it consumed even the guards that had bound and thrown the men into the fire, yet the targets were not consumed. Nothing could have survived that scorching heat, not even metal. However, mere human beings survived with an ace.
Could they have done it alone? No superhero 911 dispatcher took home the credit. The arrogant King Nebuchadnezzar learnt sooner than later from the lips of his own loyal servant after seeing “four” living people in the furnace instead of the three Jews he had condemned to die: “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:25). I’m forced to correct him with a capital G but that tells me idolaters refer to our own God as a god just as we refer to theirs with a miniscule g. Well, let’s find out who got the big crown.
WILL FAITH EVER BE ENOUGH?
Nebuchadnezzar definitely was faced with many choices after that incident- however, he could not avoid glorifying the only living God and promote Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. (Daniel 3:30).This was thanks to the faith displayed by the men that moved God to move into the fire, and spend time with the men until they were set free.
Therefore, even when fear threatens, faith should be maintained. It might be a step towards an unexpected promotion from a scary Nebuchadnezzar. It just depends on whom we’re having faith in and how steadfast we are. The bible tells us in Luke 17:6 that, “if we had faith as small as a mustard seed” we could command a tree to move and plant itself into an ocean.
In the same way, whatever burning furnaces we may find ourselves in – be it a fire at work, a matrimonial fire, a spiritual fire, a difficult fire by a nasty neighbour, a fire in our ministry or business, a community fire, you name it; we could either choose to allow it consume us or tell Nebuchadnezzar we will never worship his god.
Finally, as much as we strive to avoid real fires in life, we’re bound to encounter other forms of fires in our lifetime. When that happens and we find ourselves strapped in chains by our captives, we must keep crying to God in faith. Who knows? Instead of burning into ashes, God always delivers His children and makes it possible for us to walk out again strapped in a bikini suit ready for a good spiritual swim just because we trusted in Him! After all summer is here, forget 911, let’s get out of the fire and swim!
LIA
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Irine Lum Asanji (aka LIA) is a freelance writer and journalist based in Brampton, Canada. Born and raised in Cameroon the daughter and sister of Pastors, LIA immigrated to Canada in 2006. She holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism (University of Buea, Cameroon) and a postgraduate degree in Visual Anthropology (University of Tromso, Norway). She has worked as a journalist and Communication Officer with the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC). LIA recently designed and launched a website talktolia.com geared towards Marriage and Family enrichment services, which serves as her ministry and her private business. She is an employee with Broan-Nutone Canada and became born-again in 2011 making her more evangelistic in her approach to writing. She speaks English, French, German and Norwegian. She is a mother of two and enjoys singing, cooking, dancing and a good laugh. She writes under her name and her pen name LIA which also means Lord Is Able.
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