The Implications of Faith

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

Last week we considered, the resources of faith that are available to every believer who seeks to follow the will of God. Our text was found in Daniel 3, where we find the three friends of Daniel refusing to bow before the image of the king. Their decision to stand for the Lord brought ramifications and the same is true for every believer today. Although each one of us would like to say, “Yes, I have a faith that will not waver”; the sad reality is that there are few who are willing to make the choice that these three men made. The reason that many are not able to stand is because they have never considered the implications of faith, they were not ready to stand when the time came.

Faith is always Confronted with a Choice
We can either choose the high road or the low road. The three men were not asked to deny their faith only to bow down to the image of the king. Faith always chooses the highest and best, even if it cost us the most.

Faith always Involves a Risk
By stepping out in faith the three men knew that they might lose their lives. Whenever, we endeavor to stand for the Lord and for what is right, we run the risk of loss: the loss of friends, family, fame, or finances.

Faith always Encounters Opposition
By stepping out in faith, we also know that certainly there will be those who oppose us. Our enemy the Devil will seek to mobilize his forces so that he might in some way impose his will and cause us to turn back. Remember though, “...greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).

Christian are you ready to stand by faith for the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you counted the cost and taken solace in the Word of God? Have you anchored your life to the solid rock of Jesus Christ, and are you trusting in His promises? It is one thing to claim that you will stand, but it is quite another thing to follow through and be found faithful.

Pastor Jeffrey Bateman