The alarming sound pierced our ears as my husband got up from the computer chair so fast, my son running towards the smoke detector to check it out and myself, sprung up from the couch as I was watching an evening show.
We ran everywhere to check out if there was any smoke. I loved to light up tea lights and a candle was always burning inside the fireplace. My husband puffed some air and quenched the candle in the fireplace.
“You don’t think it caused the detector to alarm, right?”
“I mean, c’mon, you know I always had candles burning 24/7 there and it was so far from the detectors. Plus, the vent was open anyway.”I explained.
The shrieking alarms sounded for almost 4 seconds then died down.
“Hmmm…That was weird,” we all agreed. There was no smoke. There was nothing that was giving off some heat.
“Oh, well,” my husband uttered. “Buy some batteries tomorrow if you can so I’ll go ahead and replace them.”
The alarm was loud but short yet, enough to make us, three, wary. What a relief to know that there was no fire inside the house!
What a truth that applies to our spiritual lives, too! Of how we must be always wary knowing that the spiritual battle is real as we surrender our hearts to Christ. Yet, when facing adversities or feeling the massive heat from the fiery trials, we must not fear. Christ promised that He will be there as we go through all these trials.
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“24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.” – Daniel 3:24-30 (ESV) - emphasis was mine...
These three friends were pressured to deny God, but they chose to remain faithful to Him no matter what, even if it meant to face death. They trusted that God would deliver them yet still chose to trust no matter what occurred.
As I go through a tough battle at work and here I am going back this Thursday to face the same people who love to give me a hard time, God reminds me that He is with me all the way through from this passage from Daniel. He knows that I have been praying for a quick escape, even if it means Him returning “now!” But I must learn to trust in Him and in His plans for me. If He always rescues those who are true to Him, then believers don’t need to have faith. Many selfish people will sign up to be followers if that’s the case. God is working in me, letting me know that I must continue to remain faithful (as He is with me and you…) whether He intervenes or not. What awaits in the future is worth any suffering we have to endure. Glory be to God! Thank You Lord for being there for us during our fiercest battles.
Oh Lord, please forgive me for those times that I even want the things to happen my way, my time. You are Sovereign Oh Lord. Please empty me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I surrender everything to You Oh Lord. May Your will be done. I have everything because of You. Thank You Lord for Your love, mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
