Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Daniel 1-3
Daniel 3:18
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.
But if not… Just as prophesied, many Israelites were carried away as captives to Babylon. In some ways this mirrors the same situation New Testament Christians face today. They lived in a land that was not their home; this world is not our home. They faced difficult decisions brought about by pressure to conform to Babylonian standards; we face the same. They were threatened with harm for not conforming; same today. Their faith system was constantly challenged by unbelievers; so too today. Some of them faced martyrdom for their faith; same with some today in various countries. To survive in a world that was hostile to their faith these three, for example, developed a “but if not…” type mode of living.
When faced with forsaking their faith in God, or bowing down to a false idol they had a choice to make. Go along and live, trust God for deliverance, or die? Most believers in Christ do not face a literal burning fiery furnace and the prospect of being thrown in it to be burned to death. But they do face pressure to conform, “go along and get along,” or “go with the flow.” At work, in civic affairs, even in churches some are pressured to go against that which they have learned from the Word of God. Believers in Christ are somewhat like boat anchors, they hold firm to a fixed position while those in the boat want to float in unknown and unproven directions. After all, boats are made to float, to move, not to stay stationary. “Why do the anchors hold us here, we want to go there!” And such the like.
Consider giving the gospel to others. Every Bible believer knows that the great commission is to win the lost. Yet, society passes rules, written or unwritten, against this type of activity. When the faithful Christian does give the gospel, they are oftentimes met with ridicule, disdain, or simple straightforward and stifling reactions. Because of this reproach they are tempted to stop witnessing. But some, thank the Lord, have that “but if not” type approach. They live like this: “I’m going to try to win a soul expecting God to win them to Himself through my efforts, but if not, if no souls are saved, I still am going to try to win a soul.”
The same with praying: “I’m going to pray expecting God to answer my prayer, but if not, I’m still going to pray.” Or “I’m going to read my Bible expecting to get something out of it, but if not, I’m still going to read my Bible.” Or “I’m going to go to my church expecting to get something out of it, but if not, I’m still going to go to church.” Or “I’m going to love my spouse expecting that love to be returned in like fashion, but if not, I’m still going to love my spouse.” On and on this list could go.
Living a “but if not” type of life does not guarantee success or even the absence of hardships. However, it does promise something much more important. Eternally more important. For this type of life attitude for a child of God ensures that they will hear those immortal words that we all probably crave. …Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:21
Dr. William T. Howe
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