When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were taken from their country and brought to Babylon as captives, they were only youths. They had been brought up by their parents to follow the Lord their God. Their parents and teachers had schooled and mentored them well in the ways of Jehovah. But now, for the first time, their faith and commitment would be put to the test. Not just once, but continually.
They suddenly went from being surrounded by the holy city of Jerusalem, to living within an evil, idolatrous country. All around them was that which appealed to the greed and pride of man. Pressure to blend in with this new culture must have been great. And now, with no support from their spiritual guides, these three young men had to make their choice; to go with the ways of Babylon or to stand up and be set apart as children of the Most High God.
We all know the story. They chose to stand for what they knew was right--at the king's table and then again before the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had built for all to worship.
I don't imagine it was easy for them. Perhaps they may have even paused to count the cost before making the decision to follow God no matter what.
But, do you think the Hebrew children did this alone, on their own strength?
NO! Only with the help of God were they able to be stronger than Babylon!
My dear friends, you are in a foreign land--sent here to learn and become better servants for the Lord. But, in this land you will find temptations much like those the Hebrew children faced in Babylon. Temptation to blend into the popular culture of America, pressure to conform to a lower standard of conduct in order to fit in with some of your wantoks who have not stood fast, and finally confusion over what is even right or wrong.
It is easy to get lost in a world that is focused on pleasing yuyet. You will soon find that if you keep looking at yourself, you will loose sight of Christ. In a culture that bombards you with worldly pleasures, you will need to stay grounded in the Word of God, surround yourself with Godly influences and above all: go directly to the God who loves you and wants nothing more than to help you be stronger than Babylon!
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