Even If

You’ve heard of fair weather fans and if not, they are people who are supportive of and enthusiastic about a sports team only when that team is performing well. The bible is full of stories about fair weather believers and believers who remained faithful until their dying breath.

Not all died from their professions of faith, but they experienced trials that still leave us amazed when we read about them. One of my favorites is found in Daniel, the story about the three Hebrews; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

King Nebuchadnezzar was a fair weather fan. In Daniel 2: 47 he said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” But his devotion to God was short lived because he neither feared nor obeyed God.

The three Hebrews however, were fully devoted and obedient to God even when their lives were threatened. When they refused to worship a false image they were bound and sentenced to be thrown into a blazing furnace.

I love this scene and the conviction they showed. The sound of the blazing furnace could be heard and felt by those nearby. Jealous government officials eagerly reporting to the king the actions of these men, hoping to remove them from their positions by death. A bad tempered king shouting his demands and furious that anyone would disobey him. Taunting the three Hebrews with the question, “who will be able to rescue you from my hand?” All the noise, the heat, the chaos and then a calm, confident response.

“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Isn’t that amazing! Those are some determined and dedicated believers.

Going deeper:

The reason those men did not fall to the pressure, the heat or the command of a king was because they had previously determined never to worship another God and they courageously took their stand. The decision to be faithful to God had been made before the tests began. Their response and faith are so encouraging to me.

It’s easy to believe and speak about our faith when everything is going well. But do we still feel the same and speak with the same boldness when trials come? Do we remain faithful regardless of the consequences? How about when we are in the middle of the flames? Or when the outcome is loss? Remaining faithful means “Even if.”

If God always rescued those who were true to him, Christians would not need faith. Their religion would be a great insurance policy, and there would be lines of selfish people ready to sign up. We should be faithful to serve God whether He intervenes on our behalf or not. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first. (Life Application Bible)

Mercy Me has a song called Even If. Some of the lyrics are below:

It’s easy to sing
When there’s nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I’m held to the flame
Like I am right now I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

As believers we are all on team Jesus. Life will get difficult at times and we will find ourselves at our own moments of speaking our truth. What have you already determined that to be? Even if……..I will serve God and believe in Him.

My prayer

Father, there have been many moments in my life where my faith was so little and so stretched, but even in those moments You gave me hope. You have been with me in the fiery furnace and gave me strength. You have given me promise when the outcome was loss. Through it all You remain faithful to me. Help me to remain faithful to You. In Jesus name, amen.

Where does my help come from?

Daniel 3:16-20

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”