Walking Through Fire

You can achieve success in today's world. Faith is the key to overcoming challenges.

We all have dreams in life. Our dreams serve to excite us and help us to look forward and plan our future. But sometimes we have to face difficult obstacles. These can be due to a change in our parents' jobs, where we live or perhaps even changes in our family. These challenges may even force us to modify or change our dreams. How do you respond to these kinds of difficulties?

We may be afraid of them, but God tells us He does not want us to worry, for He will provide for us just as He provides for the birds and all of creation (Matthew 6:25-32 [25] Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
[26] Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
[27] Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
[28] And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
[29] And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
[30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
[31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
[32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

See All...). God has also given us examples that show we can have success—if we obey Him and have faith in Him.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego

The book of Daniel tells the story of a group of young men who were facing a challenge they could never have imagined. They had been taken from their homes and families and placed into a foreign land where even the food they were to eat was new to them.

This is the story of four friends—we know them as Daniel , Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego . These young men may have been only about 15 years old when they were taken from their homes as the Babylonians conquered their nation of Judah (Daniel 1:1-6 [1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
[2] And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
[3] And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
[4] Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
[5] And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
[6] Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

See All...). Instead of becoming slaves with the rest of their people, they were chosen and probably forced to enter a three-year training system in order to become a select group of servants to directly serve the king of Babylon (verse 4).

This school only selected the best and brightest young people and then provided them with the best education available in the world at that time. Not only would they have to learn vast amounts of information and have it available for instant recall, but—if they succeeded—they would ultimately stand directly before the king.

They were immediately forced to change their names, learn a foreign language and they were even told what they had to eat (verses 7 and 8).

The four friends quickly realized they had to figure out how to be excused from eating foods contrary to their normal Jewish diet. The leader of the school did not know what to do with their request—it seems he had never been faced with someone refusing to simply follow instructions, and he was understandably apprehensive. After all, if these four students did not remain healthy, he would be blamed.  

So what did Daniel and his friends do? Did they just demand their way no matter what, or did they give up and just eat the king's food? No, Daniel and his friends had established a good relationship with the servant who was directly over them and stood out as good students. They asked him to put their diet to the test. God backed them up and they appeared healthier than the other students after just 10 days.

Facing the fiery furnace

Next we see three of these friends facing a second and much more difficult challenge. By this time they had been promoted to positions of power in Babylon (Daniel 2:49Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
See All...). But now they were being tested by a new law telling them to worship an idol the king had set up (Daniel 3:1-7 [1] Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
[2] Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
[3] Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
[4] Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
[5] That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
[6] And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
[7] Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

See All...). If they didn't worship the idol, they would be burned alive in the fiery furnace.

How would you face this situation? I am sure this new law and the fierceness of their enemies, along with the king's response, must have given them some hesitation and fear about what to do next.

Yet they didn't pause, but gave an answer without wavering (Daniel 3:16-18 [16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
[17] If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
[18] But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

See All...). Even when the king confronted them, they did not hesitate and they instantly knew what their answer had to be. Even though they knew they might lose everything, they stated they would remain faithful to what they believed. They were fully aware that this decision could cost them their lives.

Miraculously, God spared them, and not even the hair on their heads was singed when they walked through the fire (Daniel 3:27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
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Today

How do these examples fit into your life today? Thankfully there are few times in today's world were we are faced with a decision that could cost us our lives. But there are times when we all have to decide whether to follow what we believe in and build righteous character—or just go along with what everyone else is doing.

Perhaps your challenges include deciding to not work a shift on a Friday night—even when you are told to do it as a new employee. Or you could be faced with having to ask your professor if you can take a test at a different time because it conflicts with the Sabbath or God's Holy Days .

It is often easiest to just smile, not ask and take the shift or the test—perhaps preferring not to make a teacher or boss angry at your request. You may even feel bad because it could cause extra work for someone else.

As I was thinking about the choices that Daniel's friends had to face, I spoke with a man in the Church of God. He had come to understand the command to rest on the Sabbath while he was in medical school. As anyone in school today knows, professors and administrators often are not very understanding of those who don't want to do things like everyone else. But this man knew what God wanted him to do. So he informed his professors that he would no longer be able to take his exams on Saturday—as he had done previously—due to his new faith. He offered to take his tests early and went to each of his professors and deans individually—carefully explaining his belief. Still they told him he would fail and that it was not possible to continue in medical school.

He stepped out on faith and didn't show up for his tests on the scheduled Saturday. When he returned to class on the following Monday, he was told to show up on Tuesday—to take the tests with 10 other students. God had intervened on his behalf. He is now a doctor and remains in the Church of God.

How did these men—Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego and this doctor—serve God? They were diligent to do their part to resolve the situation by going above and beyond their duty, but they also demonstrated great faith in God, who rewarded their actions and their faith.

Preparing our faith

Faith is essential for success. We all want to obey God—to do the right thing. But often we have to make choices to either take the test or face the consequences. These choices are easier if we have prepared our faith. Have we taken the time to prove ourselves to our teachers so that they are willing to work with us? Have we decided that even if we are rejected, we will find another way? Or do we compromise our beliefs so we can take the test and skip going to church?

We also need to be showing ourselves as people who are willing to go the extra mile. Our faith gives us the strength to do that. Daniel and his friends were willing to take the extra examination in order to prove they could survive without the king's food. The doctor offered to take the tests early. These things would definitely have put them at a disadvantage when compared to their fellow classmates.

In the end we know God wants us to be happy—after all, we are His children and He only wants what is best for us. Daniel and his three friends became leaders in the empire of Babylon. And you can succeed too. You can attend the most challenging schools—such as Harvard or Stanford. You can become successful businesspeople or doctors. You don't have to compromise right dreams and ambitions. Don't underestimate yourself and tell yourself you can't do it. If you have faith in God, then you already are successful. (To understand more, you may wish to request or read online our booklet You Can Have Living Faith .)

So how should we face the challenges that threaten to prevent us from succeeding? We can have faith that God is always there to help us to overcome difficult circumstances and succeed. For as God promises, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
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