Illus: David Gibbs, is a lawyer that has fought many battles in the court room on the difference between convictions and preferences. According to the US Supreme Court -
• A preference is a very strong belief, held with great strength. A preference is a strong belief, but a belief that you will change under the right circumstances.
If your beliefs are such that other people must stand with you before you will stand, your beliefs are preferences, not convictions.
Preferences can be changed by family pressure, lawsuits, jail,
or the threat of death.
• A conviction is a belief that you will not change under any circumstances. Why? A man believes that his God requires it of him.
David Gibbs says that preferences aren't protected by the constitution. Convictions are. Convictions on the inside will always show up on the outside, in a person's lifestyle. To violate a conviction would be a sin.
Convictions are not a matter of theology, but they are a matter of lifestyle. Convictions deal not with what you believe, but it goes much deeper than that, it deals with how you live.
Moses had conviction, but Aaron did not. Moses would never have worshipped the golden calf. Aaron knew it was wrong but he did not have conviction and his lifestyle proved it.
Because you know something is wrong, does not mean you have conviction.
• Knowledge comes from the brain
• Conviction comes from the heart
Illus: That reminds me of a famous actor that was an after dinner speaker at a big function. When he stood up to speak, he invited his audience to choose a poem for him to recite.
There was a long silence, until a retired clergyman raised his hand and asked him to recite Psalm 23.
The actor was slightly taken back, but agreed to do so, provided the clergyman would recite it after him, which the clergyman reluctantly agreed to do.
The actor recited Psalm 23 and received a standing ovation.
When the clergyman recited the Psalm, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
The actor came over to the clergyman and said to the guests, "Do you know the difference between his version and my version? I know the 23rd Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd."
When people have REAL CONVICTION, it comes from the heart. Some people say they love the Lord, but their lifestyle does not indicate that.
Illus: They remind me of two guys who are talking about their 95 year old boss's upcoming wedding with a twenty-four year old woman.
• One man said, “She said her heart is full of love for him!”
• The other man said, “There is a name for this kind of wedding."
• "What do you call it?"
• "We call it a football wedding."
• The first man said, "What's a football wedding?"
• The other says, "She's waiting for him to kick off!"
When we really have love in the heart, it is reflected in our lifestyle. If you really believe something from the heart, it is going to affect your actions.
Illus: Once, when Alabama was playing Auburn, Coach Bear Bryant sent in his 2nd string quarterback with instructions to run on every play and not pass the ball. Alabama led by three points and only had to run the clock out to win. Three downs in a row Alabama was crushed. On the fourth down with a few seconds left and Alabama ahead, the quarterback took the snap. Looking into the end zone he saw his receiver open and the temptation was too great. He threw the ball only to see it intercepted. Though he was the slowest player on the field, the 2nd string quarterback ran down the interceptor and Alabama won the game.
After the game, coach Dye of Auburn said to Bear Bryant, “How could that boy run down my boy who was so much faster?”
“Simple,” answered Bear, “Your boy was running to score a touchdown – my boy was running to keep me from killing him!”
When we truly believe something it will be reflected in our actions.
God’s church needs men and women of conviction that know right and wrong, based on God’s Word. Because God’s Word says something is wrong, they will not do it.
We see a good example of this in the life of the three Hebrew Children. When everyone else was bowing to the gods of this earth, they refused to bow because they had Bible convictions.
Let’s take a closer look at these MEN OF CONVICTION, that we might learn to be like them. First, let’s look at-
I. THE COMMAND
Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon, built a powerful Empire in the ancient Middle East.
• He conquered the fierce and cruel Assyrians
• Among the lands which Nebuchadnezzar subdued was the tiny kingdom of Judah, the last remnant of the former nation of Israel, which first was divided by civil war and then was wasted by the Assyrians
• Babylon was the greatest SUPER POWER of that time.
• There was no power that could resist Nebuchadnezzar, because God had raised him up to accomplish His purposes.
• Likewise, when God at a later date was finished with the Babylonian kingdom, there was no power that could save it.
Nebuchadnezzar was king over this mighty empire and he could do whatever he wanted to do.
The first time we really get to know Nebuchadnezzar is when he has a disturbing dream. He called all his soothsayers and magicians to give him the interpretation but they could not.
Finally, he called upon Daniel, and Daniel gave him the interpretation. This greatly impressed him and he declared the God of Daniel was, “…a God of gods.”
Look at Daniel 2:47-48, “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.”
After Daniel found favor in the sight of the King, he made a request.
Look at Daniel 2:49, “Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”
Twenty-five years later, Nebuchadnezzar, who had a dream of a large statue, decides he is going to erect a large statue. It seems that Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten that the God of Daniel is the true and living God. Maybe old age is catching up with him.
When we get old some terrible things happen to us.
Illus: Two very senior little ladies were discussing the ravages that time had wrought on their bodies. One said, "My arthritis has gotten so bad I can hardly grip anything, my cataracts seem to get worse every day and I can barely see. I have gout in my right leg and can’t bend my knee. I can’t hear anything, but thankfully I can still drive.”
Maybe Nebuchadnezzar was getting old and he forgot that twenty-five year earlier he had declared the God of Jacob to be the God of gods!
The measurements of the image in verse 1 are ominous. He built a 90 foot tall ( about 8 stories) idol, probably after the false god he was named after, Nebo.
Look at Daniel 3:1-6, “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
The word "image" here, is just a general term for anything that’s erected, but it probably had a human form. If it did have a human form, notice that it’s ninety feet high, and nine feet wide. Now that’s a pretty disproportionate human form. Possibly it was more like a four-sided tapering pillar.
Illus: It probably looked a lot like the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. It was very tall and very narrow.
We call these three fellows the three Hebrew children. This really gives the wrong impression.
• They were probably young men around 20 years of age.
• All three of them came from good backgrounds. Most likely from wealthy, influential families.
• They had been kidnapped, taken from their homes and families, ripped from their culture and their heritage.
Even something as fundamental as their names were changed to reflect their captors heathen concepts....
• Hananiah - "The Lord shows grace" was changed to Shadrach - "Command of Aku" (a Sumerian moon god)
• Mishael - "Who is what God is” was changed to Meshach - "Who is what Aku is?"
• Azariah - "The Lord helps" was changed to Abednego - "Servant of Nebo" (another false god)
After Nebuchadnezzar built this image, he gave the command that everyone was to bow at the appointed time. Refusal will result, not in INCARCERATION but in death by INCINERATION. These three young Jewish men would not bow.
Twenty five year earlier, Daniel had requested they be put over the affairs of Babylon. These were very prominent men and now for them to refuse to bow to the King’s image could cost them their prestigious jobs and even cost them their lives.
They refused to bow and soon word got back to the King of their refusal.
Look at Daniel 3:12, “There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
Most likely, the men that told the King were jealous men. They said, “There are certain Jews whom thou has set over the affairs of the province of Babylon…”
This did not sit well with the King. He was not used to people disobeying his commands. He cared a great deal for these three men up until now, but if his command was going to be worth anything, he must make an example of them. He commanded the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal.
Look at Daniel 3:13-23, we read, “Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 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. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.”
Just think about three powerless young men, trapped in a hostile, foreign territory, being confronted by the most powerful man on earth and threatened with a horrible, fiery death unless they performed the simple act of bowing to this statue.
We have looked at THE COMMAND, now let’s look at-
II. THE CONVICTION
As they faced this command to bow to this image, they had several things they could have done:
(1) They could have rationalized. "We know this is just a pile of rock and metal and it isn’t a real God, so how is bowing to it to save our lives such a bad thing?” That makes sense, doesn’t it? Listen, If they had done that, their testimonies and all they claimed to stand for would be gone.
(2) They could have compromised. "OK, we’ll do this to save our lives, then we’ll work even harder and pray even longer to our real God to make up for it." Then what about the next time the music started? Every time we compromise, it gets easier to compromise the next time.
Illus: You may be on a diet and losing weight. And one day you say, “I am going to go off my diet just for today.” Guess what? Once you give in one time, it gets easier to give in another time.
• The same is true concerning prayer and Bible study. Once you decide not to do it one day, it becomes easier to decide not to do it another day. In a few days, you will not be praying and studying the Word of God.
• The same is true concerning attending church. One Sunday you may wake up and the devil will give you all kinds of reasons why you should not attend. Once you decide not to attend this one time, it will get easier not to attend church the next time.
Compromise will bring good deeds to a halt! Compromise with sin always leads to more compromise and more sin.
Illus: Someone once said that sin will always:
• Take you farther than you want to go
• Keeps you longer than you want to stay
• Costs you more than you want to pay
These fellows had CONVICTIONS, and they had made up their minds that they were going to obey God no matter what it cost them.
They refused to bow because they were men of CONVICTION. They knew the Word of God and lived by it.
Look at Exodus 20:1-5, we read, “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
As far as they were concerned, GOD SAID IT AND THAT SETTLED IT!
You would think these guys would be at least nervous. Their response to the king, in Daniel 3:16-18, is one of the greatest examples of faith and courage found in scripture.
What made them stand up for God like that?
(1) THEY HAD GOD’S WORD. They were familiar with the law of Moses. They had godly parents who had instilled in them a love of God’s word and a love of doing right and obeying God.
(2) THEY HAD EACH OTHER. Do not underestimate the strength we draw from our Christian friends. It’s not so hard to believe that these three friends found strength and comfort in numbers.
(3) THEY HAD AN EXAMPLE. It was Daniel who first led the others in defying the godless ordinances of Babylon. (Look at Daniel 1:8-15) Their friend Daniel proved in the den of lions that God and anyone is a majority.
(4) THEY HAD FAITH. Look at Daniel 3:16-18, we read, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 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.”
Their faith in the Lord was the foundation of their confidence, and it wasn’t rooted in worldly pride or personal accomplishment.
Conclusion:
SO WHAT HAPPENED? (Read verses 19-30)
They didn’t even smell like smoke!!!! I can’t even leave the bowling alley without smelling like smoke, but God’s protection was so thorough, so complete, that not only was there no singe on them, but they didn’t even smell like smoke. What a God we serve! One of the great needs of the church today is to have men and women with convictions based on the Word of God.
We have looked at:
I. THE COMMAND
II. THE CONVICTION
