Elias Malaquias/Flickr
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge David L. Banning held Kim Davis in contempt for violating a court order instructing her to issue same sex marriage licenses, in accordance to the SCOTUS June 26th ruling legalizing same-sex marriage throughout America. Due to Davis’ convictions she refused to nullify the Word of God by issuing them. Consequently she was handcuffed and taken to jail.
My focus isn’t on whether she is right or wrong, whether she made the best decision or not, but rather her choice to stand.
STAND FOR NOTHING OR YOU’LL FALL FOR ANYTHING
Have you heard of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Daniel 1:6-7)? You may not immediately recognize these names, but I’m guessing you’ve probably heard their story.
These young men were taken from their homes and forced to live as subjects under a foreign leader in a strange land. It was a total culture shock for them, from the food, their indulgent lifestyles and beliefs.
These boys weren’t welcomed by everyone, they were wise beyond their time and apt in all types of learning (Daniel 1:17-20). This brought them good attention, rewarded in the form of promotion, but it also attracted bad attention, resulting in conspiracies against them.
The king built and erected an almost 90 foot tall statue. Then issued an order requiring all residences to comply, by worshipping it on demand or face fatal consequences. Some troublemakers whispered to the king, these “Jews” aren’t following your rules(Daniel 3:8-12). They were summoned and the king gave them a choice…
I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?
Daniel 3:15 New Living Translation (NLT)
Well this was a problem for them, because of laws they’d been taught, or more importantly a law that came directly from God. Though they weren’t in their own territory and most of “their people” had turned away from God they still felt obligated to holdfast to their religious convictions (Exodus 20:4).
They responded to King Nebuchadnezzar but not with the answer he wanted…
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, 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.”
Daniel 3:16-18 NKJV
The king immediately flew into a rage, heated the furnace 7⃣ times hotter, ordered them to be bound and threw them in the fire 🔥🔥🔥 (Daniel 3:19-23).
Surprise, Surprise
King Nebuchadnezzar peered in to see the children up, free & walking around…but wait! Someone else was in there…walking with the children, someone who looked like the “Son of God” (Daniel 3:25, NKJV). The king immediately removed them from the furnace, acknowledged God and promoted them (Daniel 3:26-30).
As I thought of Kim Davis on yesterday, God brought this story of Shadrach (Hananiah), Meshach (Mishael) and Abednego (Azariah) to mind. He highlighted their complete trust in Him. Not only did they say God has the power to save us, but they said if He doesn’t we’re still going to follow His rule and not bow down to anything but Him.
God hasn’t promised us total immunity from harm, evil & persecution. He actually warns us to expect it (Matthew 10:24-26) and rejoice in it (Matthew 5:10-11, Luke 6:22-26). As all these scriptures were being brought to mind I heard God say, “I didn’t say you wouldn’t go through things, but that I’d walk with you in the midst” (Psalm 23:4, Matthew 28:18-19).
Take a stand for what you believe in, prayerfully that’s on the side of God (Matthew 12:30). DO NOT WAIVER AND DO NOT BE ASHAMED. If we are ashamed of the gospel and if we are ashamed of Jesus Christ, He promises to deny us before God in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33).
This is only a prelude to what will take place. The line has been drawn…at first we’ll see the slow transition of parties to their respective sides (see my previous post, Visitation). Some will try to hold out, playing it safe…staying in the middle…BUT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO CHOOSE what’s more important to you…your convictions to God or your convictions to man…
Now, it is commendable if, because of one’s understanding of God, someone should endure pain through suffering unjustly. But what praise comes from enduring patiently when you have sinned and are beaten for it? But if you endure steadfastly when you’ve done good and suffer for it, this is commendable before God. You were called to this kind of endurance, because Christ suffered on your behalf. He left you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps.
1 Peter 2:19-21 Common English Bible (CEB)
