Do Not Bow to...

Do Not Bow to the God of Fear

By Michael Duty

Verse 18 - 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 3:18 [emphasis added].

I have worked for the same company for over nine years and as of this writing and we are facing a downsizing due to market conditions. By the time you read this, about thirty people where I work will be notified that some of us no longer have jobs. And actually, I’m okay with whatever happens.

Many of my well-intentioned family and friends tell me, “Mike there’s no way they’ll let you go. . . You’ve been there too many years and done too much for that company”. That may be true, but I am prepared for whatever happens, which makes a difference.

The above scripture comes from the story of the three Hebrew boys about to be thrown into the fiery furnace. They bluntly told the king that their God [Our God!] is able to rescue us; “but even if he does not, we will still not bow down to your gods or the image of gold you have set up”.

I have met people who were once in a close walk with the Lord who have slipped away from Him. They are no longer in the Church. They haven’t picked up a Bible in ages although they can still quote it and recall stories. They have fallen away under the notion that God had somehow let them down or abandoned them.

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego knew without any doubt that God was able to rescue them. However, they were willing to die if God chose that for them. This brings me to my next point.

Not only did the three Hebrew children refuse to bow down to the image of gold, they refused to give in to their inner natural ‘god’. The god that I’m referring to is the god of Fear that so many of us end up putting before faith in God.

When talking about the sin of idolatry, most people will think of the pleasurable things that we put before the Lord. Like those who travel 3 hours in a blizzard to be in person at the football game, but can’t make it to church on Sunday morning when there’s a little rain.

That is a form of idolatry, but so is giving in to your Fear. Fear in place of Faith can cause us to hold back from giving fully to God. What if Abraham had held Isaac back because he feared what he might lose, and he could not trust God to deliver on His promises?

Equally as bad is sacrificing to Fear, the good gifts God has given us

I believe that God created us to enjoy life and the good gifts He has given us. However, sometimes we sacrifice our health and well being to stress because we forget that Jesus commanded us not to worry.

Remember Jeremiah, through whom the Lord said, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

We have to trust that all things are in His hands. When we worry and let Fear steal our joy and our peace, then we are living like those in the world that lack God’s Blessed Assurance, and that hinders our testimony and our witness.

Without that assurance, we can become tossed on the waves like the disciples were before Jesus calmed the storm. This makes the world wonder how are we (who claim to walk with God) are any better off than they are.

Now, on the note of not worrying, let me clarify a few things. First, we need to understand that certain kinds of fear are natural and healthy. Fear is a part of common sense that keeps us from rushing off into things that are not good for us.

Secondly, there is nothing wrong with acknowledging trepidation. When you’re afraid, acknowledge it. Don’t ignore it. As someone with volunteer firefighting experience, I am captivated by the three Hebrews who stood at the mouth of the furnace with its immense heat, darkening black smoke and suffocating gases.

I have been in places where panic has seized me, but that fear has also kept me level-headed enough to take nothing for granted. Besides, if you weren’t afraid, it really wouldn’t take walking by faith would it?

Finally, don’t discount good sense for fear. Remember that the devil tempted our Lord to prove He was the Son of God by throwing himself from the top of the temple. Jesus’ reply was “It is also written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’”.

As these days wind down until the moment that I know one way or the other whether or not I’m still employed, I have found the extra motivation to work on that home business I have dreamed about. This may be the time that God calls me out to that.

Or maybe not.

Either way, I look at this not with trepidation, but with a sense of excited expectancy waiting to see where my Lord will take me to next.