I was struck this morning by the response of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego to Nebuchadnezzar. They declared with confidence that their God was able to save them from the fiery furnace, but then added these words, “But even if He does not…” The outcome didn’t impact their faith—their belief that the God of Israel was the only true God and worthy of their worship.
Perhaps those words, “But even if He does not” are a picture of true faith—a faith that isn’t based on what God does, but on who He is. A faith that finds its assurance in the wisdom of God whose thoughts are not our thoughts, whose ways are not our ways. A faith that is firmly rooted in the truth that God’s thoughts and ways aren’t just different from ours but are infinitely higher and better. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
And perhaps, above all, those words declare a faith in God’s unfailing love. It’s a faith that has confidence that God’s ways are always motivated by God’s heart. There’s no greater basis for faith than the deep and personal love of God—a love powerfully displayed on a cross.
We often define faith as a belief in what God will do, but perhaps the real declaration of our faith is when we are able to say with Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego, “But even if He does not.”
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