The young man had reached maturity, physically, emotionally mentally and financially. It was now time for him to get a life partner. I’m sure he looked around a bit until he met the perfect one. She was beauty queen material, intelligent, considerate, dedicated, loyal and supportive. He had hit the jackpot and he knew it. The attraction was mutual, so he didn’t take long to pop the question.
Everyone was happy as obviously this was as they say, “A match made in Heaven”. They had a traditional wedding and set off to live happily ever after.
But, what was in the future for them? The young man always knew that God had a special calling for his life but he couldn’t figure out exactly what that was. He started off in the family business and was doing well but he soon became convinced that God wanted him to migrate, so he discussed it with his wife, made the necessary arrangements and they took off in short order. Even during their travels which took them to many countries, their business boomed and they became very wealthy. They met people from all walks of life, high and low, rich and poor. One head of state offered them a resident visa even without them asking.
But something was missing - no children no matter how they tried. They tried every known fertility treatment. They even tried surrogate parenthood, but that was a disaster. However, long after they had given up hope, the miracle happened and there was a baby crying in the crib.
Can you imagine the joy and the excitement? Can you imagine the care and protection that little boy got? He was heir to all his parents’ wealth and their lives were now centred around him.
One day, when he was just a teenager, the father got a mind-blowing call. He knew the voice on the other end very well, but something didn’t sound right.
“What? Take my son and offer him on an altar of sacrifice like the heathen do? You can’t be telling me to break your own laws. But, even as he struggled with the thought as his head pounded and his heart raced, he knew it was no impersonator. There was no human or demonic voice that sounded quite like this voice – the voice that he had come to know so well.
Daniel and friends
A group of good-looking guys from “big shot” families thought their future was secure when they graduated from university with top honours. But bang! War broke out and before they knew it, they were prisoners of war en route to a foreign country. What a disaster!! What would become of them now? Cruel treatment, hard labour in the hot sun, poor food, scarce water, horrible sleeping quarters – nothing positive to look forward to.
But the king who was bent on becoming a world superpower, was no fool – he knew talent when he saw it, so he had them taken to his palace, treated royally and trained to become high government officials.
What could be so bad about this? Major religious and cultural differences. The first, as you know, was food, but because these guys made such a positive impression on the king’s aids, they crossed that hurdle fairly easily. Then came the bigger tests – worship!! One was a subtle trap set by some of Daniel’s jealous colleagues, and the other was a blatant order for idol worship.
Both situations carried dire consequences with no assurance of escape – one a den of hungry lions and the other a deadly crematorium heated so intensely that it consumed anyone and anything that came near to it.
What a dilemma?
These are stories that we have heard over and over from our childhood, but have you ever seriously thought of what you would do if you were in their situations? It may be easy for us to say, I would have done the same for we all know the happy endings.
God stayed the hand of Abraham in the nick of time.
He shut the mouths of the lions so they didn’t hurt Daniel. And most powerful of all – He stepped down Himself into that raging inferno so that not one hair from the skin of those guys was singed. In fact, the Bible tells us that they didn’t even smell of smoke when they came out.
But please bear in mind that none of them knew the ending beforehand. What made them so resolute?
I am sure that Abraham would have most gladly laid down his own life in place of his son’s. But, he lay his most treasured possession, his most precious and miraculous gift from God, on the altar of sacrifice?
Daniel and his friends could have adapted to the culture and customs of the Babylonians without any physical consequences. But, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered Nebuchadnezzar like this?
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18 NLT
What gave these people such extraordinary courage, determination and dedication?
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT
How did their faith become so strong?
Just look at their prayer life.
Daniel had a public prayer session three times a day, each and every day of the year.
In addition he had special fasting and prayer for every major decision and every challenge in his life. He asked for wisdom, guidance, revelation – just about everything he needed to function effectively in the various situations he found himself in.
Abraham talked to God so frequently that he couldn’t mistake God’s voice even when God was telling him to do something seemingly contrary to even His own instruction.
Out of their faith grew their willingness to surrender all, even life itself, in obedience to God’s will.
Question: How many of us are willing and ready to make that kind of surrender?
Was it easier to serve God then than now?
My conclusion: God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His power knows no limits.
If you think that God does not exercise His power in modern times, I encourage you to go to the internet and do a little research. You can start with a story called “Manna in Angola” and look for some other amazing modern miracles.
We are living in the end times. We know the things that are coning on the earth.
Are we still satisfied with mediocre Christianity?
Can that get us through the time of trouble?
Do we want to see God’s power displayed in our lives?
Do we want Gods work to be finished in a blaze of glory?
Do we want to have more answered prayers?
Do we want healing?
Do we want financial stability?
Do we want success in evangelism?
Do we want to impact our community?
We need a deeper faith, a stronger commitment, a closer walk with God.
We need such a faith in God that will make us declare like Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
Question:
What do we need to surrender?
Sad to say, some of us are not even willing to surrender a taste bud in order to improve our own physical health.
But God wants everything and what He offers in exchange is incredible!
The apostle, Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT.
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,[a] 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.[b] 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
God is willing, God is able, God is anxious
Are we willing?