You Don't Even Smell Funny!

In Romans 8:28 the Bible says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." This scripture tells us so much about our God. It tells us that HE is aware of everything that is happening in my life and in yours. And His plan is constantly at work in me. We may not understand all the things we go through, but we must understand that God has it all in control, and HE is working HIS will in us!

There is a tremendous story in the Bible about the keeping power of God. In Daniel 3 we have the story of the 3 Hebrew guys that refused to bow down to the idol that the King had set up. They made a stand against the rules, because the rules were against the commandments of God.

We will pick up the the story at this point. They have been confronted by the king and given the opportunity to get it right the next time. The 3 men tell the king there is no chance they will bow down and worship the idol the king set up. The king gets so mad, he has them bound and tells his servants to throw them into a fiery furnace. But he also has the furnace heated up 7 times hotter than normal. When they are thrown in, the fire is so hot it kills the servants of the king that threw the 3 men of God into the fire. Shortly, the king looks into the fire, hoping to see them suffering from the flames, only to be shocked to see them walking around, unbound, with some company! Even the king recognizes that the 4 man in the fire looks like the Son of God! He yells at the men and tells them to come out of the fire, that he knows they are servants of the Most High God!.

Here is the part I like best about this story! After they come out of the fire, everyone in positions of authority gathered around them to check them out! In Daniel 3:27, they all came to this final conclusion - that the fire had no power upon their bodies, the hair of their head wasn't even singed; their garments weren't even scorched or changed in color or condition, and they didn't even have the smell of smoke on them! Wow!! What a God!!! WHAT A GOD!!! God kept them from death and destruction!

Now to bring this home to you and I. Maybe some of us are going through some firey tests and trials. You made a stand for God and it seems that things have gotten worse. You were bound up, heard the command from the enemy of our souls to heat the furnace up 7 times hotter than it had ever been heated up before. Then finally thrown into the fire, only to find that it really wasn't as bad as you thought it would be! Actually, you get up look around at your brothers, see they are ok, then turn and see you have someone else there that you didn't see before! The Son of God standing there with you! Then you remember the scripture in Hebrews 13, that says HE will never leave you or forsake you. And a peace that surpasses all of your understanding comes over you!

Right there, in the midst of the fire from the enemy, a fire that was intended to steal, kill, and destroy you, you have the greatest experience of your life! Jesus Christ manifests Himself to you. And not only you, but everyone watching to see you be destroyed by this fire, they see this One, this appearance of Christ in and with you, the hope of Glory!!!

The results are this, they see God in a way they have never seen HIM before, it opens the eyes of their understanding that they see HIM, and accept HIM, as the One True God!

The enemy of our soul is out to destroy us, but God is working everything out together for us, and not only us, but everyone around us, that they might see the Son of God on display as the One True God!

Whatever is happening in our lives right now, just remember that because we love God, HE is working things out for my, and your, good. Don't worry about the fire, it can't kill you, it can't destroy you, it can't steal from you. It can't even make you smell burnt! All the fire did was burn off the man-made bondages placed on you! Remember, the Bible says in Hebrews 12:29, that "our God is a consuming fire."

So after you have been in the firey furnace, you don't even smell funny!