Jesus Christ Has Made Our Way through Death to Eternal Life!

Daniel 3:19-23 New International Version

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Thursday - August 12

Parents know that their kids need to experience pain to mature. It is a hard reality, but true. Without the freedom to experience pain, children will not learn to be fully functioning and mature adults. They need their own experiences. But that is not what is happening here. The faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was already mature and strong! The issue is whether or not God is more powerful than all the forces of sin, death and the devil. Will death reign? Will sin destroy us and everything we love? Will God intervene on our behalf? We believe and confess, just like Rach, Shach and Benny, that “our God… is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace,” but even He doesn’t in this life, we have Jesus Christ who has made a way for us through death into eternal life. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55).