A Colossal Golden Image & A Red Hot Fiery Furnace-Daniel 3-Part 3

This event happened in 584 BC.
  The king had just yelled in a rage to the three young Hebrews saying, "There is no god who can save you from me!"  Isn't this what Satan tries to tell us every day?!  The roaring lion, Satan, yells in our mind, you aren't forgiven!  You're not good enough.  God isn't there.  God is harsh, and He condemns you.  God doesn't love you.  You've already messed up, so go ahead, just this one time!"  He tries to make us look at ourselves instead of Jesus, which makes us feel hopeless.   He tries to make us believe that he has more power than God.  But, faith is not a feeling, it is a choice to believe God does what He says He will do, in His word!  The young Hebrews knew God, so naturally, they believed His word!  What did the young men do next?
  Daniel 3:16-30,
"The three men replied, " Your Majesty, we don't need to defend ourselves. The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. But even if he doesn't, we still won't worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up."
  The young men knew the old testament promise from God in Isaiah 43:2, "When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won't drown.  When you walk through fire, you won't be burned or scorched by the flames." They were hanging with all the faith God had given them, that God would deliver them!  If He had chosen to do it differently, they knew that they would see Jesus at His second coming, when they would be resurrected to go to heaven with Him!
    Nebuchadnezzar's face twisted with anger at the three men. And he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual."  The more your trials heat up, the greater the miracle in God's deliverance! 
  The king was trying to force worship.  That always brings trouble, anywhere.  I'm thankful to God that in America, we still have freedom to worship the way we choose, but prophecy says that will change too.  The stories of Daniel are for those of us living in the last days, before Jesus comes!  They are to inspire us with faith in God!
  "Next, he commanded some of his strongest soldiers to tie up the men and throw them into the flaming furnace. The king wanted it done at that very moment."  So, what is it that has you feeling bound in ropes you are helpless to break free from today?  There is absolutely nothing that God cannot set you free from, today!  God specializes in removing your chains, my chains.  Luke 1:37 says, "The things that are impossible with humans are possible with God!"
So the soldiers tied up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and threw them into the flaming furnace with all of their clothes still on, including their turbans. The fire was so hot that flames leaped out and killed the soldiers."
  This is a picture of what will happen to Satan and his host at the end.  As the wicked soldiers were destroyed by the flames, so will Satan an his angels be, along with the wicked.  They will be burned up.  The wicked will NOT be tortured forever and ever!  More on this later...
    Suddenly the king jumped up and shouted, " Weren't only three men tied up and thrown into the fire?"
   " Yes, your Majesty," the people answered.'
    " But I see four men walking around in the fire," the king replied. " None of them is tied up or harmed, and the fourth one looks like the Son of God."  Nebuchadnezzar went closer to the flaming furnace and said to the three young men, " You servants of the Most High God, come out at once!" Now, Nebuchadnezzar was acknowledging the One True God Most High!  He had never in his life witnessed such a miracle of deliverance!  Imagine all of the thousands of people in the crowd, that had bowed to the colossal golden image, that day!  What would you be thinking in that audience?!  I would be wanting to know this Most High God!  Jesus says in Hebrews 13:5, last part, "The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us."  Jesus will never abandon you to the enemy!  He says in John 10:28, "I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand."  Just call out to Jesus, and He immediately responds!  He prompts you and I to ask for help.  He's ready and waiting.  Sometimes He says no, yes or wait awhile.  He is never too early or too late, but right on time!  Jesus walks through the fire with us, always.  He gives peace and strength as needed. In Isaiah 9:6, God speaks, "A child has been born to us; God has given a Son to us. He will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace."  He faced hell for us, overcame the grave, faced the fire and come out for you and I.  Nothing is impossible with God! 

  God's best 2 U,       Joy J