Listen to the way Daniel describes the people who know God during that awful time. “The wise among
the people will make many understand, though for some days they will stumble by sword and flame, by
captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they will receive a little help…some of the wise will stumble,
so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end.” At first glance I think,
“that’s awful!” But God doesn’t do anything awful. What’s happening here? Just like a parent teaches a
child right and wrong, disciplining them when they do wrong and encouraging them when they do right,
so God allows good and bad to rain down on His people. The people who know God will stumble. They’ll
be hurt; pursued by people who hate them, the things they stand for and the message they preach.
They’ll be robbed and even enslaved for a while. But instead of demoralizing them, this pressure will
purify them. The pain will refine them. They will emerge from the fire without any of the stains the
world carries; as white as snow. This doesn’t reference their skin color but the color of their heart.
Daniel is saying they will be clean.
Paul talks about this in his book to the Philippians. He says we are to, “work out our salvation with fear
and trembling, for it is God who works in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” That means
we have a job to do. We don’t just ‘sit back’ and let what be, be. Our task is to work out our salvation or
process the incredible gift God has worked into us. The gift of grace, being invited into God’s presence
because of the work of Jesus on the cross, should make us fear and tremble, not out of terror, but out of
gratitude. But God also has a job to do. He is constantly working His incredible plan in us; that’s inside
us. The Designer of our lives is content to knit His goodness into our souls. And He is constantly at work.
Listen, there is no reason to panic, nor is there any reason to “Let go and let God.” The South African
preacher who told the world that Jesus would come back this past Tuesday was wrong. Apparently,
panic ensued. We heard of people quitting their jobs, selling their cars and houses…just freaking out.
Obviously, we are all still here. Panic is no way to interpret the happenings around us, nor is laziness a
proper way to respond to God’s control. “If it’s going to happen regardless, why should I care or do
anything in response?” The answer is a clear cut, because God asks us to. He expects us to obey Him.
While God promised to fight for Israel at Jericho, He still expected them to march AND not cart off any
treasure. Both do’s and don’ts mattered. Multiple times in war, God promised to fight for Israel. There
was certainty in victory (such as in the story of Gideon), but they still fought. Our eternity is secure in
Christ. The battle is won! We don’t even have to march around the city to see it! But we are told—not
asked—to submit our lives to Christ in every way. We aren’t handed the key to the city and given a life
of a couch potato as a result. Work out your salvation involves, well, work.
What does all this mean? It means, as our world is falling apart, we have a job to do and God does, too.
As churches burn and Christians are killed—sword, flame, captivity and plunder—we are told to “stand
firm and take action.” That’s not a decision you will be able to make on the fly. You and I must begin
building a foundation of faith now if we are going to be able to stand firm when the fire comes. Daniel
isn’t talking about being able to fight. He has no doubt God’s people can fight, shoot, punch and kick.
That’s not the command. The command is to stand and stay standing when everything else is knocked
down and burned up. The only way that can happen, the only possible way we can endure the fire (like
his friends in the furnace) is if we have a serious relationship with Jesus. The question is not, “Are you
willing to step into the fire?” The question is, “Are you willing to obey Jesus?” Your answer means
everything.