THE GREATEST FIREMAN

"...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." - Daniel 3:17

When I was growing up, I wanted to be a fireman.  I admit that I loved to see fire trucks, whether they were parked outside a firehouse, led a parade or rushed to the scene of a fire.  Even now, I must admit that a fire truck gets my attention.  Maybe it's the boy in me.

My future career as a fireman came to a screeching halt when I was in the sixth grade.  One night, my parents went to visit some friends and left my brother & I alone at home.  As we were beginning to watch a TV show, we noticed something intense through the curtains in the living room.  As we opened the curtains, we learned that the house next door was on fire.  The house was rather close to the home we lived in at the time.  Watching our neighbor's house burn was terrifying.  Making the whole situation more troubling was the fact that our home was so close to the burning house.  Fortunately, the volunteer fire department arrived moments later and extinguished the fire before it could spread to our house.  The whole situation rattled me.  I learned quickly that a fireman is called to duty only during horrible situations.  I decided that night to abandon my dream of being a fire fighter.

Due to the nature of their work, I have a great deal of respect for firemen.  They sacrifice their lives to save others.  The greatest fireman of all time is the Lord Jesus Himself.  He was the One who created fire and He knows how to save people from fire.

In our text, three Hebrews defied the king's evil edict.  The consequence for their action was execution in a fiery furnace.  Their faith stirs us to this day.  Read again what they told the king:  "...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." 

As we remember their courageous act, we must remember a few things.  First of all, they believed that the only One worthy of their worship was God.  They refused to compromise their faith even though the cost would be great.  They risked their very lives for the sake of their faith.  They stood alone for God.  It is refreshing to see believers stand for their faith --- especially when they are willing to risk everything for the sake of the Gospel. 

Secondly, the three Hebrew men did not have assurance that they would be spared from the fire ... they just knew that God was able to deliver them.  Ultimately, they were thrown into the fiery furnace.  You and I will face our own fiery trials.  We may face a furnace of persecution, a furnace of pain, or a furnace of trials.  Although God is able to spare us from the fire, He still may permit us to go into the furnace.

Third, when they entered the fire, a fourth man arrived to aid them.  The Fireman had arrived.  He saved these men from certain death.  If you are a born-again believer, you may be sure that God is there with you when you enter the furnace & He'll stay with you the entire time you're there.

Finally, God brought them out of the fiery furnace.  For the believer, fiery furnaces will come ... but they are all temporary.  God always brings His people out of the fire.  God delivers today.

If you are not a born-again believer, fire is in your future.  Revelation 20:11-15 describes the Great White Throne Judgment.  Verse 15 gives us the grim outcome of that judgment:  "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."  If you die without saving faith in Christ, your eternal future will be in a lake of fire.  Yet that does not have to be your future.  Like a good fire fighter, Jesus Christ sacrificed His life so you could be saved from the fire.  On the cross of Calvary, Jesus took your place and received the punishment you deserved.  He paid the price for your sins with His own life.  Through repentance and faith, His payment may be applied to your case.  Jesus didn't come to earth to make your life miserable.  Instead, He came to give you life.  He cared enough to do everything it took to keep you from the eternal fire you deserve.  How glorious He is to love you to the extent that He'd take your place!  Why continue to dishonor and disgrace the One who loves you the most?    Why continue on the road to the eternal lake of fire?  Turn from your sins right now and receive eternal life through Jesus Christ.

I'm glad that Jesus, the greatest fireman, still saves people from the fire!