In the third chapter of Daniel, we read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue ninety feet wide-nine feet tall, and set it up in Babylon. A herald shouted, “When you hear the sound of musical instruments, bow to worship the statue.” Some astrologers went to the King and said, “Meshach and Abednego, who you have out in charged of the province of Babylon, refuse to worship the gold statue.” The king grew enraged and had the three men sent to him. The king gave them one more chance to worship the statue telling them if they refused again, they would be thrown into the blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego still refused so the king commanded the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual and had them thrown in. To the King’s amazement, he saw four men walking around in the furnace instead of three. The king called for them to come out. Not a hair on their heads was singed, their clothes were not scorched, and they didn’t even smell of smoke. The King’s response to this was, “there is no other god that can rescue like this.” Then he promoted them.
While going through the worst storms of your life you may be wondering, “Why hasn’t God sent me any relief? Where is he in my time of need? Why is he allowing me to go through so much pain and suffering?” Sometimes God allows us to go through the fire so that we may learn to become fireproof. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the lord your god goes with you he will never leave you nor forsake you.” So in your times that you believe God has abandoned you, he is actually standing in the furnace with us ensuring that he is our shield; protecting us from the fire around us [figuratively speaking]and renewing our strength.
1 Peter 5:10 reconfirms this with, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Your pain is not without purpose. Our suffering in the fiery furnace is God molding us into a being who will no longer be negatively affected by the flames. God only breaks us down in order to build us up, staying down is the work of the enemy. He wants us to be able to tell the masses how we walked out of the furnace in flawless victory. After reading this you may be saying to yourself, “ok all that sounds good, but how do I become fireproof?” Well stay tuned and you’ll learn just that in part 2 of “Becoming Fireproof”!
Be Blessed
Starving Christians 
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