Will you risk the heat?

My morning devotion today immediately brought to mind a Veggie Tale called "Rack, Shack and Benny", a story of three young boys working in a chocolate factory. They are told by the company president, Nebby K. Nezzer, that they can eat as much chocolate as they want to, but also that they must perform a daily ritual to a 90-foot chocolate bunny or else they will be thrown into the furnace. The boys have been taught by their parents not to eat too much candy. Will they succumb to peer pressure and the threat of persecution? After all, everyone else is doing it.

The story relates the Bible account found in Daniel chapter 3 of King Nebuchadnezzar's attempt to get all people to worship the large image of gold he has erected or be thrown into a blazing furnace. It helps kids to understand the story by providing a situation that is easier for them to understand. But how well can we relate to the Bible account? At least in the United States, we are not forced to worship false gods in fear of being thrown into a fire. But do we  not still have a fear of persecution for our beliefs?

For those of us too old for Veggie Tales (okay, we are never really too old), we must ask ourselves what is our 90-foot chocolate bunny? Is it alcohol? Money? Divorce? Sports? A friend's spouse? A co-worker? An automobile? Are you doing things because it has become the norm in our society, even though you learned differently from your parents and elders? Are you forgoing taking your kids to church in order for them to play in that big game? Are you partaking in activities which hurt others in order to get ahead?

In our Bible account of Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego (Rack, Shack and Bennie in the Veggie Tales account) stand firm to their beliefs and to the one God, even in the face of being thrown into a blazing furnace. They held on to their faith even as they were being bound and thrown into the fire. Am I asking you to volunteer to be thrown into a furnace? Absolutely not, but we can relate this story to things in our lives everyday. God not only spared the lives of Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, but their faith had an immediate impact on those who witnessed the event.

Think about how your decision to do what is right (yes there still is right and wrong) could positively impact others, especially our younger generation who are constantly being bombarded with temptations that I know I did not have growing up. What about the potential impact you will have on your adversaries? Don't let your mind go to what others will think of you if you don't go along, but instead what they will think when they see you stand up for what you believe in. Be willing to withstand the heat and do what is right. Our children, the future of our country and the world depends on people making the right choices.

I leave you with this partial passage from Daniel 3:28. "They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God." Trust in Him instead of giving in to peer pressure.

Pray consistently and often and your faith will be strengthened. He hears your prayers and will help you be strong in your decisions.

May God bless your day.

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