05/08/2022
It’s one thing for us to feel that we are in a fiery furnace like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, but we should not only survive such experiences in our lives, but walk around within them. Even more, we should never feel alone there because Jesus is with us. There are some among us who are suffering the heat of a physical or spiritual furnace right now. But, are we consumed by it, giving into it, or walking around within it talking to Jesus about what it means to truly suffer?
“He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Daniel 3:25 KJV
I was talking with someone who was mourning the death of a loved one. They told me that all they wanted to do at that moment was to lay down, curl up into a ball, and die. My heart ached for them as they spoke to me through their tears, and I wanted to take on their pain myself, but when we go through such times there is only one person who we can turn to for relief… Jesus Christ. In the midst of my friend’s agony there was nothing that I could say or do that would take away their pain, but Jesus has the words, and He knows how lost we are feeling in our furnaces.
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Matthew 27:46 KJV
Have we ever cried out in such despair? David felt it, and the words poured from him as he wrote the twenty second psalm. Many others have felt it as well, and called out in one fashion or another; perhaps we too have cried out in such fashion.
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”
Psalm 22:1 KJV
When Adam and Eve fell from grace the Lord never gave in to his disappointment. He came to walk with them knowing full well what they had done, and in this way He was walking in His own suffering as He asked them why they were hiding. We too should walk in the midst of our own suffering, and we should know that God loves us so much that he has sent His Son Jesus to walk with us in the heat of whatever furnace we find ourselves. Whatever trouble we are experiencing, or enemy we are facing; whatever heartache, or loneliness we are feeling, we should not give into it, but keep walking because Jesus is there with us.
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
Psalm 138:7-8 KJV
We may be tempted to walk away in disappointment. We might even find ourselves traveling our own spiritual roads to Emmaus, feeling abandoned, but Jesus will appear, and walk with us. He knows the words that will lift us up, and he will replace the pain of whatever fire we find raging within ourselves with the soothing fire of God’s Word. He will build a back fire of truth to starve the pain we have been feeling.
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”
Luke 24:32 KJV
So, we will find ourselves in various furnaces in life, and some will seem to be unbearable, but if we keep walking, and recognize that Jesus is there with us, then our troubles will be overcome, and we will find ourselves advanced in faith, and promoted in our belief. Are we able to see through the smoke, and endure the flame?
“Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.”
Daniel 3:30 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the furnaces and fires we find ourselves in, and for your Son Jesus who not only saves us from them, but walks with us through the flames while opening your Word to us. Thank you for the love you have shown us, and the redemption and forgiveness of Christ who through your grace has become our back fire, and conquered sin and death. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who quenches the fires that threaten us. Praised be your name for every walk we take with Jesus as our hearts feel the burning fire of your Word He delivers. Merciful are you Lord for sending Him to take away the pain of sin, and the sting of death. Glorious are you who receives all glory in the resurrection, and in our salvation. Wash us clean in His blood, and in this way douse the flame that burns within us. Call us worthy, and heal the scars of our past burns as you usher us to your table. Restore our voices damaged by the smoke of burning sin, and hear us singing your praises for all eternity… your promised reward.
Rich Forbes