There is an account in the Bible, in the Book of Daniel, of three young men, most probably teenagers. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and they were faithful to God. Their story is one of courage.
In the time of King Nebuchadnezzar, the king had dreams that troubled him and kept him awake. He ordered magicians, sorcerers and mediums to interpret his dreams but they could not. Finally, it was Daniel who received a vision at night of the interpretation of the king’s dream. The dream was a prophecy of four great empires and the empire which will rule the earth in the end times and the dream told of the coming global kingdom of God.
It was after this, that the king made a gold statue. It was ninety feet high and nine feet wide and the king commanded everyone to attend the dedication of it. People were told, when they heard the music, to fall face down and worship the statue. Whoever refused to do so would be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. People just went along with the king’s orders. When they heard the music they fell down and worshipped the statue.
The king was told that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not worship the statue. The king ordered they be brought before him. He told them to fall down and worship the statue or they would be thrown into the furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego remained faithful to God and told the king that God could rescue them from the fire and from the king. They told the king that even if God didn’t rescue them, they would never serve the king’s gods or worship the statue. They stood their ground, even though they would be thrown into the furnace. Needless to say, the king wasn’t very pleased with their answer and in his rage he ordered the furnace to be heated up seven times more.
The men who threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the furnace were killed by the hot, raging flames. Then the king noticed not three, but four men walking around in the furnace unharmed. The king called Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego out of the fire and he saw they were completely untouched by the fire.
Daniel 3:28-30 (CSB)
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” Then the king rewarded Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
What a turn around and all because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood up for God and for what they believed in. Even with the threat of death, they remained faithful to God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were three very faithful and courageous servants of God.
Revelation 2:10 (CSB)
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
To read the full story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the king’s dreams, go to the Book of Daniel, chapters 2 and 3.
Onward Christian Soldiers 