Can you imagine the inward strength and the courageous faith that it took for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to not bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s 90-foot gold statue when every other person around them was bowing down? Go even further. Can you imagine the additional inward strength and the extra courageous faith they had as they stood before the king and he threatened them—“fall down and worship the image” or “you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace”? Go even further. Can you imagine the fortitude of faith they possessed when they found out the king was deadly serious and had the furnace heated seven times more than usual and had these young men bound and carried by mighty men to the burning fiery furnace? Why not, even then, denounce Jehovah and bow down before the king’s image? Why not give in, do this simple thing like everyone else and save your life?
One reason: “Our God whom we serve…” (Dan. 3:17). “We do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image!” (3:18). How courageous and strong is your faith?