Daniel 3:17-18 “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

This story is one of the most famous in the whole Bible, and justly so. You couldn’t find a finer example of faith and commitment. We don’t know who the spokesman was for the three, but the fact that it doesn’t specify implies that they were fully agreed in their position. This position had two parts: first, faith that God was able to save them, miraculously if need be, and second, commitment that would accept martyrdom before submitting to idolatry. The second element really certified the first! This story is told to countless children in Sunday School, but I really think most of the adults telling it think of it as a myth, rather than historical fact. That is a huge loss. Various kinds of persecution are evident in America today, with Jack Philips, the Colorado baker, being a prime example. Even after the Supreme Court ruled that he couldn’t be forced to practice his craft in violation of his faith, his enemies trumped up another charge on which to attack him, and he has now been in this battle for years. His position continues to be, “I will not serve your idols of perversion, no matter what you do to me.” Sadly, many Christians have not been so strong and have compromised in countless ways. Believers need to realize that the devil is never after just “tolerance,” he insists on full submission. Just as in this story, it’s all about control. That has certainly been evident in the recent pandemic. Those following the devil don’t care who suffers or who dies, they just want control. That’s why God’s rules are so liberating: they free us from the control of evil.

The longer I live the more convinced of this I become. In the recent uproar over COVID I declined to panic. This church had “online only” services for only two weeks at the very beginning, after which point I told the people that Cathy and I were going to be doing it all anyway in order to put it online, so if they wanted to come they would be welcome – and they all showed up! I knew the science about masks being ineffective against viruses, so I have worn one only in indoor settings apart from the church where they were required. Currently I put one on only if I am entering a medical facility, where they are still very insistent. Cathy and I did finally get very minor infections in March of this year, but it was no big deal. Japan does tend to be a very controlled society. I don’t want to offend needlessly, but “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) To this point I have not faced major opposition the way Jack Philips has, but I desire that my commitment be no less firm, even to the point of martyrdom.

Father, thank You for Your grace toward me. I pray for my brothers and sisters in places like Nigeria, North Korea, and many others, where standing for Christ can mean standing in front of executioners. May all of Your children be strengthened and comforted, and Your rule and reign be established everywhere, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!