The Furnace

 "Look," Nebuchadnezzar shouted, "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames. And the fourth looks like a divine being." Daniel 3:25

Though she would never describe herself as such, Joni Eareckson Tada is a hero of the faith. Paralyzed by a diving accident at age 17, she has lived for over 50 years now with painful limitations that few of us could even begin to understand. Yet, in the midst of her affliction, she has not only been used by Him to minister and encourage thousands upon thousands in the faith, but has herself experienced an intimacy with Christ that few ever come to know.

Recently I heard her speak of what her life has been and how she has experienced Him. She used the example of the Hebrews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who, because they wouldn't worship the image of himself that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had set up, had been thrown, fully bound, into a furnace of red hot flames. As the king and his entourage watched, they saw not men being consumed, but instead, free of their bonds and walking about with a fourth who had joined them. That fourth was the pre-incarnate Christ Himself. Tada said this, "As the three Hebrews walked in the middle of the flames, we can walk in the middle of our pain and suffering and expect to see and experience Jesus there. He transforms that horror into a place of intimate encounter with Him. We can know intimacy with Jesus in the most hellish of circumstances." 

We fear the flames of pain and suffering, yet if we will trust Him, He will use the flames to not only reveal Himself to us in a deeper way than ever before, He will also use them to burn away those things that have kept us bound and enslaved for so long. All that the three lost in the furnace were the bindings that the king had them held with. The bindings were gone, and Nebuchadnezzar, who had placed them upon them, could only see them walking about freely, with their Lord, in the midst of the furnace. I see Nebuchadnezzar as a symbol of our enemy, Satan, who delights in using every kind of binding in our lives, seeking to keep us in his bondage. He looks to do his best work through our suffering. Yet, if we, like the three Hebrews, will trust that we will not go into the furnace alone, our Lord Jesus will join us, free us, and bring us into an experience of Him we never knew possible.....in the furnace and amidst the flames.

For the believer, the furnace awaits in some form. We will go into it. If we will trust Him, nothing will be lost to us except that which binds and holds us. We will lose that which is harming us and in return, gain in and through Him what can never be taken away. As Tada says, He will transform the place of horror into a life changing encounter with Him.

If you're in the furnace today, expect to meet Him there. He went in before you and He will lead you through and out. Nothing will be lost except your bindings. Nothing will be burned away except that which holds you back. In the flames you'll discover the One who sticks closer than a brother. Look for Him. Trust Him. He will bring you out.

Blessings,
Pastor O