Facing the Fire Pt 4

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego had an understanding of
covenant that seems to be lost on many of us today. They knew God regarded covenant
as a very serious matter. From their love and relationship with Him, as well as
out of holy, reverent fear, they wisely chose not to break this agreement.

We live in a culture that frequently disregards the
covenants that have been made. Often these agreements are kept until something
seemingly better or more beneficial comes along and then we quickly make excuse
as we toss it to the side.

These three young men knew the cautions against disobedience
that were outlined in the Pentateuch. “You
shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you
(for the LORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the LORD
your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.”
(Deuteronomy 6:14-15)

They knew they would either face the wrath of King
Nebudchadnezzar  or that of Almight God –
a temporary fire versus an eternal, all-consuming fire.

Thanks to Christ’s atoning work on the cross, we are no
longer under the Old Covenant that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were under;
however, we are still in a covenant as children of God – the New Covenant, a
covenant of grace.

This doesn’t give us freedom to willfully sin while
expecting to be covered by grace. As it states in Romans 6:15, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under
law but under grace? Certainly not!” God regards covenant as a serious
matter and we should as well.

“Of how much worse
punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son
of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified
a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29)

None of us (I hope) have made it to this place of completely
turning our backs on the work of God, but this verse did remind me of how
precious the blood of Christ and the Spirit of grace really are and how often I
do not even think twice about it.

How often do we treat the work of Christ as a common thing?
Are we in the habit of following our selfish desires and interest and insulting
the Spirit of grace?

Let us consider carefully the covenant we have with God. Is
our response to the fiery trials to save ourselves and do what will feel better
to our flesh or is it to stand and say, “I’m not sure what may happen but I
refuse to turn away from God.”?