Unchangeable

This morning I was thinking about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  Their story is one of my favorites because so much can be learned from them.  Their whole story is found in Daniel, but it starts like this:

“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide.  He then summoned all of the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.  So all of the provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.  Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.””  Daniel 3:1-6

Nebuchadnezzar was alerted to the three men who did not worship or bow down to his gods.  The story continues...

“Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?  Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  Daniel 3:13-18

They were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.  When king Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he was amazed to see four men walking around… not three.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were pulled out of the fire without a single hair singed or a single robe scorched.  As a result the king made their God the God of his kingdom.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.  Daniel 3:28

Regardless of what happens no one can change the God of your life.  The Bible can be taken out of hotels, the ten commandments can be removed from government buildings, God can be abolished from public schools, laws can be made to label Christian beliefs illegal (as Nebuchadnezzar did), but no one can change who you worship and to whom you pray. 

More importantly, regardless of what happens, God does not change.  He does not cast shifting shadows.  God made everything that exists.  Nothing exists that He didn’t make.  He will always be the one who made you.  He is your salvation.  He is the one who loves you.  He is the one who protects you.  He is the one who strengthens you.  He is the one who promises wisdom for you.  He is the one who blesses you.  He is the one hears your prayer and answers it.  He knows you struggle and how hard you try.  He knows when you fail and when you succeed.  God knows. 

He became my God, my Lord, my Savior in the summer of 2000… and no one can change that.  Have a good and godly day.