Today, the heat of temptation and compromise is many times hotter than it was a generation ago. For example, Satan has rigged the entire technology of our age””corrupting it with seduction, sensuality, lust and temptation. Why do we face such a white-hot furnace of temptation today? Why are lust and sex being used to sell every conceivable kind of product? Why are there hundreds of porno websites on the Internet? Who is the target of this flood of filth?
It isn’t the secular world, which has already been seduced. No, Satan’s target is none of these. Rather, he has manipulated the media to snare the hearts of overcoming Christians. He wants to weaken and destroy the testimony of the gospel.
Right now the furnace is being heated seven times over in the lives of many believers. Satan has created situations in their homes, on their jobs and in their relationships that are more intense than ever. And many once-strong Christians are giving up, quitting on God. They no longer pray for help. Instead, they think, "My trial is too intense for me to survive!”
In Daniel 3, God turned the devil’s scheme into an opportunity to expose the whole nation of Babylon to His testimony. Because the three young men would not bow, the Lord delivered them. And they brought to the nation a clear manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ!
The king of Babylon testified, "Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? . . . Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:24-25).
Quickly the king nullified his first decree of idol worship and issued this new decree: "Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort” (verse 29).
Beloved, it all happened because of the testimony of three men””righteous lovers of God who were willing to lay down their lives in faith.
Yes, things are going to get hot economically, physically, mentally, spiritually and in every other way. But God has already put His hand on separated, godly men and women in every place. And His gospel will be preached as a testimony.
Then the Lord will come!