There was no fire, yet our employee break room was filled with nasty, smelly smoke. My boss and I were the first ones on the scene and immediately opened the windows and door. We quickly determined someone had burned a bag of popcorn in the microwave. The smell of smoke saturated our clothes, hair, and very pores. We later joked about needing to go and buy new outfits because of the smell. Luckily for me I did have an extra shirt in my car. This experience reminded me of the miracle of the three who were cast into the blazing, fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar.

In Daniel 3:26-27 we read, "Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, 'Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!' So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them." Believe me, others will notice if we smell of smoke or not and they will also notice who we serve. God's miraculous power and hand never cease to amaze me for there was "no smell of fire on them." A feat I cannot accomplish even when I start the barbecue grill, build a fire in the fireplace, or walk into a room where a colleague has overcooked the popcorn.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's faith in God was such that they had no doubts He would rescue them from the furnace. In Daniel 3:16-18 we read, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'O 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 save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" They knew God was their defense attorney and was able to save them and they refused to defend themselves before King Nebuchadnezzar. In Exodus 20:3-5 we read, "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God." The three were determined not to violate God's commands.

As He did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Christ will unbind us when we are in bondage and He will be with us in the fire. When we are overcome and surrounded by the smoke, heat, burdens, and circumstances of life, we need to trust and rely on God to remove those things which have us tied up and bound. Those around us will be amazed, as King Nebuchadnezzar was, at the power of God working in our lives. King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement when he realized there were four men in the fire instead of three and that all four were unbound and unharmed.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to go through and experience the fiery furnace in order for King Nebuchadnezzar to recognize the power of their God. We too will face fiery, often smoky, and hot situations in this life, but our God is also able to see us through. In John 16:33 Jesus tells us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." And in James 1:2-4 we read, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

God did not promise the children of Israel a life without trials and times of hardship; nor are we promised a bed of roses without thorns. However, God did say that He will never leave us or forsake us and nothing can separate us from His love. (See Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Joshua 1:5; and Romans 8:35-39). The miracle experienced by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was not a one time miracle for we also read in Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not [scorch you or] set you ablaze." Yes, sometimes life is hot, yet we have God's promise that He will always be with us.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego received promotions as a result of their uncompromising devotion and faithfulness to God. Are we too faithful to the God we serve? I certainly hope so, for God still promotes those who are faithful and committed to Him. And in the end He will cause our enemies to recognize who we serve and will not allow harm to come upon us, for we are His. May we be encouraged by the words found in Psalm 37:28-29, "For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever." Amen.