Graduating from A Faith of “I Will” to a Faith of “If Not”
Often time faith in God depends on His deliverance and what He brings us through. This type of faith is conditional and based on what God does. This type of faith is trendy in discussing faith. Throughout scriptures, God has shown His ability to deliver and sustain.
Faith that correlates with deliverance is attractive and is the preferable faith that shapes Christians’ perspectives — this concept of faith rescues from trials and tribulations. Christians often find themselves in challenging situations and expect God to deliver in every circumstance, and this is the basis of faith for many.
God can deliver from any situation; however, there are times when God chooses not. As Christians, it's dangerous to base faith on whether God delivers.
For example, the apostle Paul asked God three times to remove the thorn from his flesh. However, God did not remove Paul’s thorn. For whatever the thorn was in Paul’s flesh, it was something irritating and kept him abased (2 Cor 12:7–8 NASB).
Therefore, as Christians, it’s vital to have unconditional faith in God no matter the situation and understand that our faith in God must progress from the concept of “I will” to “If not.” Realizing that God’s answer is sometimes “if not”, therefore, allowing space for suffering.
If God decides “I will” or “If not” for deliverance, it’s a must that faith in God remain constant, knowing that His grace is sufficient in all circumstances. This type of faith is challenging but necessary for growth as a Christian.
Daniel chapter three demonstrates the concept of graduating from faith of “I will” to faith of “If not.” As the three Hebrews recognized the ability of God.
The book of Daniel can be better understood if broken into two categories the first six chapters, which comprise six stories, and the latter chapters seven through twelve, which reveals the four visions.
Here in Daniel, the children of God or Israel are under Babylonian rule around 604 B.C (Lederach 17). In chapter three, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had ordered that everyone bow down and worship the golden image he had created, which stood about ninety feet tall.
Nevertheless, Nebuchadnezzar gives orders, and everyone among the crowd who gathered around the golden image bowed down and worshiped except three Hebrews. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all refused to listen and bow, for they held fast to only worship the one God of the Hebrews.
However, their refusal to bow caught the attention of Nebuchadnezzar, and he ordered for the three Hebrews to be cast into the fiery furnace.
Verse seventeen and eighteen captures the faith of the three Hebrews as stated, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17–18 NASB).
Therefore, the frustrated king commanded that the fiery furnace be heated seven times hotter than it ought to be and commanded that the three Hebrews be cast into the furnace.
Verse twenty-two describes that the fire slewed those men who carried out the command of throwing the three Hebrews because of the intensity of the heat. Once the three Hebrews were cast into the fire, Nebuchadnezzar looked, and it appeared that four people were walking around in the fire unharmed, and the fourth appearing like a son of the gods (v.25).
Then the king commanded the three Hebrews to come out of the fire. They walked out unharmed, and the text describes that they didn’t even smell like smoke. Therefore, king Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that the three Hebrews were servants of the highest God.
As for mature Christians today, we must exemplify the kind of faith the three Hebrews demonstrated in Daniel chapter three. They clearly had a faith that stood in the test of times whether God would decide to deliver or not.
Often Christians are made stronger by going through trials, whether than God sending deliverance to avoid difficulties. In society today, Christians must take caution to the environmental influences that challenge Christianity, and have strong faith in God, just as the three Hebrews who lived in a community surrounded by pagan worship.
It may not always be obvious, but influences in society dictate our thoughts. To withstand, Christian’s faith in God must graduate from a perception of “I will” to adopting the mindset to remain faithful during the times of “If not.” Because God’s grace is sufficient and can sustain all evil.
Bibliography
Paul Lederach. Daniel: Believers Church Bible Commentary. Herald Press, 1994.
