We hear about all kinds of products every day that are advertised as being fully guaranteed and we get our money back if we are satisfied with the product.  Guarantees are appealing to potential customers, but there are often questions about whether the guarantees are truly worthwhile.  We have often heard that the only two things in life that are guaranteed are taxes and dying. 

        “Words from Above” in the Bible tell us a story about three young men who were Hebrews and who were faced with a challenge to their faith in God while they were in captivity in the nation of Babylon.  The King of Babylon was convinced by members of his government to make a decree that all his subjects were obligated to worship a golden image.  Whenever they heard the sound of music they had to fall down and worship the golden image or be cast into a burning fiery furnace.  The very same members who had convinced the king to make the decree reported the three young men for failing to worship the golden image.

        King Nebuchadnezzar was infuriated when he heard about this, and he called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to answer for their actions.  He reminded them of his decree and the consequences of their failure to follow it, and suggested that God would not be able to deliver them out of his hands.  The three young men without hesitation told the king that they had no intention of defending their actions, but planned to put themselves into the hands of God.  They stated they believed God could deliver them out of the burning fiery furnace and deliver them out of the hands of the king.  They then added an important statement, “BUT IF NOT, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve you gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”  They were acknowledging that they had no GUARANTEE that God would actually deliver them, only that He could if He chose to do so.

        The king was further infuriated and commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than normal, and that the hands of the three young men be bound and they be cast into the furnace.  The furnace was so hot that the men throwing the young men into the furnace were killed, but the young men were not at all harmed.  Not even their hair was singed nor their clothing burned nor was there any smell of fire on them.  The king was so impressed that he made another decree to punish anyone who spoke against their God.  Finally, he promoted them in his kingdom.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.