{"id":1082,"date":"2016-01-18T07:15:08","date_gmt":"2016-01-18T13:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedisciplemaker.org\/?p=1082"},"modified":"2016-01-18T07:15:08","modified_gmt":"2016-01-18T13:15:08","slug":"but-if-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2016\/01\/but-if-not\/","title":{"rendered":"But if not…"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

 
\nFor a long time I couldn<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span>t understand why God didn<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t get me out of prison. I<\/span>\u2019<\/span>d been <\/span>f<\/span><\/span>aithful to<\/span><\/span> Him for years. I went to all the chapel programs, sang in the choir, and attended Bible study<\/span><\/span> regularly. I prayed every day, thanked God before every meal, and witnessed to all the men in my dormitory. I was a light in a dark place. But all my <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>ttempts to get out of prison were denied.<\/span><\/span>
\nWhy, Lord? Why? <\/i>I asked. Don\u2019t You love me?<\/i>
\nTh<\/span><\/span>en<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> one<\/span><\/span><\/span> day<\/span><\/span><\/span> while<\/span><\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span><\/span> was<\/span><\/span><\/span> reading<\/span><\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span><\/span> story<\/span><\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> Bible<\/span><\/span><\/span> about<\/span><\/span><\/span> three<\/span><\/span><\/span> Hebrew<\/span><\/span><\/span> boys,<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> spoke<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> my<\/span><\/span><\/span> heart.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> Shadrach,<\/span><\/span><\/span> Meshach,<\/span><\/span><\/span> and<\/span><\/span><\/span> Abednego<\/span><\/span><\/span> had<\/span><\/span><\/span> been<\/span><\/span><\/span> kidnapped<\/span><\/span><\/span> from<\/span><\/span><\/span> their<\/span><\/span><\/span> home<\/span><\/span><\/span> and<\/span><\/span><\/span> taken<\/span><\/span><\/span> into<\/span><\/span><\/span> captivity<\/span><\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> Babylon.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Th<\/span><\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> king<\/span><\/span><\/span> threatened<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> throw<\/span><\/span><\/span> them<\/span><\/span><\/span> into<\/span><\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span><\/span> \ufb01<\/span><\/span><\/span> ery<\/span><\/span><\/span> furnace<\/span><\/span><\/span> unless<\/span><\/span><\/span> they<\/span><\/span><\/span> bowed<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> idol<\/span><\/span><\/span> he<\/span><\/span><\/span> had<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> constructed.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Yet<\/span><\/span><\/span> even<\/span><\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> face<\/span><\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span><\/span> such<\/span><\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span><\/span> horrible<\/span><\/span><\/span> death,<\/span><\/span><\/span> they<\/span><\/span><\/span> trusted<\/span><\/span><\/span> God.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Th<\/span><\/span><\/span>ey<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> told<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> king,<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnance, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not<\/i>, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” –Dan. 3:17-18, NKJV, emphasis mineThese young men believed God could deliver them from the fiery furnance. But even if He didn’t, they were determined to be faithful to Him. They’d rather die in integrity than live in iniquity.
\nPerhaps<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> key<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> their<\/span><\/span><\/span> willingness<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> sacri<\/span><\/span><\/span>\ufb01<\/span><\/span><\/span> ce<\/span><\/span><\/span> their<\/span><\/span><\/span> lives<\/span><\/span><\/span> for<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> can<\/span><\/span><\/span> be<\/span><\/span><\/span> found<\/span><\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span><\/span> t<\/span><\/span>hree<\/span><\/span><\/span> little<\/span><\/span><\/span> words:<\/span><\/span><\/span> but if not<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>-Th<\/span><\/span><\/span>ese<\/span><\/span><\/span> three<\/span><\/span><\/span> words<\/span><\/span><\/span> do<\/span><\/span><\/span> not<\/span><\/span><\/span> ask<\/span><\/span><\/span> how<\/span><\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span><\/span> loving<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> can<\/span><\/span><\/span> treat<\/span><\/span><\/span> us<\/span><\/span><\/span> so<\/span><\/span><\/span> unfairly<\/span><\/span><\/span> or<\/span><\/span><\/span> why<\/span><\/span><\/span> He<\/span><\/span><\/span> chooses<\/span><\/span><\/span> not<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> intervene<\/span><\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span><\/span> our<\/span><\/span><\/span> tragedies.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Instead<\/span><\/span><\/span> they<\/span><\/span><\/span> reflect<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> attitude<\/span><\/span><\/span> expressed<\/span><\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span><\/span> Ro.<\/span><\/span><\/span> 11:34-35: <\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nWho has known the mind of the Lord?\u00a0 Or who has been his counselor? Who\u00a0has ever given to God, that God should repay him?Th<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> words<\/span><\/span><\/span> but if not<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i> recognize<\/span><\/span><\/span> that<\/span><\/span><\/span> we<\/span><\/span><\/span> are<\/span><\/span><\/span> unable<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> advise<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> or<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> criticize<\/span><\/span><\/span> His<\/span><\/span><\/span> ways.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nHe alone possesses absolute wisdom. He is<\/span><\/span><\/span> the just and merciful one. He is the power that sustains and rules, and we depend on Him completely in all things. He works out everything for His glory, and He deserves our praise–whether or not He frees us from difficult circumstances. <\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nShadrach,<\/span><\/span><\/span> Meshach,<\/span><\/span><\/span> and<\/span><\/span><\/span> Abednego<\/span><\/span><\/span> were<\/span><\/span><\/span> thrown<\/span><\/span><\/span> into<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> \ufb01<\/span><\/span><\/span> re<\/span><\/span><\/span> for<\/span><\/span><\/span> worshiping<\/span><\/span><\/span> God;<\/span><\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>m<\/span><\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span><\/span> prison<\/span><\/span><\/span> for<\/span><\/span><\/span> breaking<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> law.<\/span><\/span><\/span> In<\/span><\/span><\/span> spite<\/span><\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span><\/span> how<\/span><\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span><\/span> got<\/span><\/span><\/span> here,<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> is<\/span><\/span><\/span> still<\/span><\/span><\/span> able<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> deliver<\/span><\/span><\/span> me<\/span><\/span><\/span> if<\/span><\/span><\/span> He<\/span><\/span><\/span> wants.<\/span><\/span><\/span> But<\/span><\/span><\/span> He<\/span><\/span><\/span> may<\/span><\/span><\/span> choose<\/span><\/span><\/span> not<\/span><\/span><\/span> to.<\/span><\/span><\/span> –<\/span><\/span><\/span>Th<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span><\/span> question<\/span><\/span><\/span> is,<\/span><\/span><\/span> Will<\/span><\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span><\/span> respond<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> my<\/span><\/span><\/span> situation<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> same<\/span><\/span><\/span> way<\/span><\/span><\/span> Shadrach,<\/span><\/span><\/span> Meshach,<\/span><\/span><\/span> and<\/span><\/span><\/span> Abednego<\/span><\/span><\/span> did?<\/span><\/span><\/span> Will<\/span><\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span><\/span> trust<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> completely<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nand<\/span><\/span><\/span> let<\/span><\/span><\/span> Him<\/span><\/span><\/span> use<\/span><\/span><\/span> me<\/span><\/span><\/span> for<\/span><\/span><\/span> His<\/span><\/span><\/span> purpose<\/span><\/span><\/span> regardless<\/span><\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span><\/span> my<\/span><\/span><\/span> circumstances?<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nGod<\/span><\/span><\/span> loves<\/span><\/span><\/span> me.<\/span><\/span><\/span> He<\/span><\/span><\/span> sent<\/span><\/span><\/span> His<\/span><\/span><\/span> Son<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> endure<\/span><\/span><\/span> an<\/span><\/span><\/span> agonizing<\/span><\/span><\/span> death<\/span><\/span><\/span> on<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> cross<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> prove<\/span><\/span><\/span> it.<\/span><\/span><\/span> So<\/span><\/span><\/span> no<\/span><\/span><\/span> matter<\/span><\/span><\/span> what<\/span><\/span><\/span> my<\/span><\/span><\/span> situation<\/span><\/span><\/span> is,<\/span><\/span><\/span> I can rejoice because Christ alone brings the<\/span><\/span><\/span> victory, not my circumstances. His blood<\/span><\/span><\/span> shed<\/span><\/span><\/span> for<\/span><\/span><\/span> my<\/span><\/span><\/span> sins<\/span><\/span><\/span> won<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> battle,<\/span><\/span><\/span> and<\/span><\/span><\/span> my<\/span><\/span><\/span> eternal<\/span><\/span><\/span> future<\/span><\/span><\/span> is<\/span><\/span><\/span> guaranteed.<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> promises<\/span><\/span><\/span> that<\/span><\/span><\/span> whatever<\/span><\/span><\/span> happens<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> me,<\/span><\/span><\/span> wherever<\/span><\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span><\/span> am, I can never be separated from His love<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Ro. 8:35-39).<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nBut if not<\/i> <\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> .<\/span><\/span><\/span> .<\/span><\/span><\/span> Adopting<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> attitude<\/span><\/span><\/span> behind<\/span><\/span><\/span> those<\/span><\/span><\/span> words<\/span><\/span><\/span> enables<\/span><\/span><\/span> me<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> trust<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> without<\/span><\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span><\/span> guarantee<\/span><\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span><\/span> deliverance.<\/span><\/span><\/span> And<\/span><\/span><\/span> it<\/span><\/span><\/span> allows<\/span><\/span><\/span> me<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> look<\/span><\/span><\/span> at<\/span><\/span><\/span> my<\/span><\/span><\/span> prison<\/span><\/span><\/span> furnace<\/span><\/span><\/span> di\ufb00<\/span><\/span><\/span> erently.<\/span><\/span><\/span> –<\/span><\/span><\/span> e<\/span><\/span><\/span> crucible<\/span><\/span><\/span> becomes<\/span><\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span><\/span> re<\/span><\/span><\/span>\ufb01<\/span><\/span><\/span>ning<\/span><\/span><\/span> pot.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Th<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span><\/span> razor-wire<\/span><\/span><\/span> fences<\/span><\/span><\/span> that<\/span><\/span><\/span> man<\/span><\/span><\/span> designed<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> keep<\/span><\/span><\/span> me<\/span><\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span><\/span> become<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> method<\/span><\/span><\/span> God<\/span><\/span><\/span> is<\/span><\/span><\/span> using<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> help<\/span><\/span><\/span> me<\/span><\/span><\/span> \ufb01<\/span><\/span><\/span>nd<\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> way<\/span><\/span><\/span> out<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/span>from<\/span><\/span> death<\/span><\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span><\/span> eternal<\/span><\/span><\/span> life.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Now<\/span><\/span><\/span> that<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span><\/span> worthy<\/span><\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span><\/span> praise.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nabout <\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span><\/span> author<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nROY A. BORGES is a chapel clerk and the author of Faith and Love behind Prison Fences (PublishAmerica). Someday he would like to travel the world telling churches about prison life.
\nCopyright \u00a9 Discipleship Journal.\u00a0Used by permission of Discipleship Journal. Copyright \u00a9 Sept\/Oct. 2006, Issue 155, The Navigators. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. www.navpress.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  For a long time I couldn\u2019t understand why God didn\u2019t get me out of prison. I\u2019d been faithful to Him for years. I went to all the chapel programs, sang in the choir, and attended Bible study regularly. I … <\/p>\n

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