Even if!
This phrase has filled me with awe ever since I read it in the book of Daniel chapter 3 verse 18.
The sheer audacity of those three men!
The faith they had in their God!
Unwavering, unrelenting!
Even if!
In a biblical context, “even if” refers to an “even if” mindset—a declaration of unwavering faith and trust in God despite challenging circumstances and negative outcomes. It signifies a profound resilience, where a person’s praise and hope are not contingent on the situation improving.
Daniel 3:16-18 NIV –
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
Guess what?
They knew who their God was.
Notice the change in King Nebuchadnezzar between verses and events. 😆
Daniel 3:14-15 NIV –
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?
15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe 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?”
Daniel 3:26 NIV – Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
This excites me!
That is the God we serve!
Even if He hadn’t saved them, they had purposed that they would not bow to any other god apart from their Father in heaven.
Look at the world today.
How many of us as believers, would have this same audacity?
Many so-called Christians are bowing down to the god of this world in so many way – bribery and corruption, stealing, cheating, just to mention a few.
We must take a stand as believers.
Stand for God or nothing at all.
How can we profess to know Christ and follow Him, yet no difference can be found between us and unbelievers at work, school, on the roads?
What a shame!
The saints of old held on to their faith to the point of death. Many all over the world are being persecuted.
Let me ask you this : if a gun was to be pointed at your head and you were asked to denounce your faith in Christ and live or profess your faith in Christ and die, what would you do?
Reflect on this.
I have come to a point in my life that I can say that “Even if God does not give me the desires of my heart, as painful as it may be, yet will I praise Him, my Saviour and my God!”
Life without God is meaningless.
A chasing after the wind.
Living for Christ gives purpose to my life which principally is that He be glorified.
Captain of Israel’s host, and Guide
Of all who seek the land above,
Beneath Thy shadow we abide,
The cloud of Thy protecting love;
Our strength, Thy grace; our rule, Thy Word;
Our end, the glory of the Lord.
My brother my sister,.. the words “even if” should inspire you and like those three young men, may we speak forth those words boldly and with conviction, all to the glory of our good good Lord. Amen!
God bless you!
😊🙏🏽
