In the last post about Daniel we concluded that one of the great themes of the book (and the entire Bible by extension) is that we must face our many fears, like the fear of man, fear of death, and more, and exchange them all for the one fear that we are called to have: The Fear of Yahweh. This ‘Fear of the Lord’ is the beginning of wisdom, and is the only fear that overcomes all others.
If your fear is in God, then you are on the path. But if you are afraid of anything or anyone else, you have not been made perfect yet in God’s supernatural love!
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Not yet perfect. God is testing, judging, trying our hearts as we breathe our way through life. And the many precious stories in God’s Word test our hearts as well. Saints like Daniel and his three friends who survived the fiery furnace are examples of Fear of the Lord, and how it overcomes the Fear of man.
Daniel had every right to fear man. At least we might think so, humanly speaking. But the truth is we have no right whatsoever to fear men more than we fear God.
Daniel was in exile.
But spiritually, he was more free than almost anyone in the world has ever been!
And I want you to hear this today as a true spiritual encouragement, if you can receive it, because it’s actually very good news: we are in exile too.
The world is not our home.
Hebrews 13:14-16
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
In other translations it literally says: the world is not our home. Daniel and his three friends believed it.
That is what empowered them to say so boldly, that even if Yahweh did not deliver in the flesh…it would ultimately make no difference. In fact, in some ways, all the better (for them, not us) if He did not deliver. Because their eternal home, their actual place of residence, was the eternal Kingdom, a Heavenly home that Jesus himself revealed was already being prepared for whosoever believes.
Daniel was threatened with death for seven decades, just for adhering to his unshakeable faith. Praying three times a day, turning away from idols and not worshiping the images of men or false gods even when death was the judgment.
But God’s better judgment delivered him time and time again. Likewise, when we enter the fire, God is able to save and deliver us if we are fixed with our eyes on Christ alone.
And the great news is that even if the fires of hell on this earth do burn us, there is a final judgment coming, and if you remain true to Christ, you will get a better judgment in the end that is incomparable to the short term trial or tribulation that you face.
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned.
Do you think the scroll of Isaiah might have encouraged Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they entered the fiery furnace of hell in Babylon? The fiery flames did not even singe a hair on their holy heads. They were well aware of Isaiah’s prophecy.
Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of YAHWEH and their vindication from me, declares YAHWEH.”
If you are feeling judged or like you are in exile right now, take courage. The Father God’s judgment is the one that matters.
But in the fiery furnace of worldly judgment, Yahweh in His mercy and compassion showed them His Fathers’ heart and love. He revealed that He is the Great Deliverer. Our Savior. The Great I Am.
We all deserved the furnace. But Christ entered as a more powerful flame beside us, delivering us and setting us free from torment and punishment. If we are in Christ, we are more free than any who walk this Earth.
Become a whosoever and believe. It shall be done for you as it was done for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Keep Breathing,
Daniel Kooman
P.S. Enjoy the new behind-the-scenes video on this message, as we continue to reveal the first scenes from Daniel, the epic Biblical drama from The Kooman Brothers
The One Person Daniel Feared