No. 4.
CHAP. 3. The same principles of blasphemy which we have seen in verse 15, will characterize the anti-Christian power in the latter days, “imputing this his power unto his god.” (Hab. 1:1111Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god. (Habakkuk 1:11).) In Dan. 11:3838But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. (Daniel 11:38) we have the same thing, “In his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not.” Idolatry is the one great feature which characterizes Babylon, and is that which will fully reappear in the end. Man, exalting himself, setting himself up against God. Solemn Solemn! Such is the end of all the progress in knowledge, science, &c.: it is all tending to the one end—self-satisfaction and denial of God. May we be kept faithful to Him, “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour,” who is coming to take us out of this scene to a place He is preparing a special peculiar place with Himself in the midst of the many mansions. The saints under the old covenant are waiting till we get this “better thing.” (Heb. 11:4040God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40).) All creation is groaning and travailing in pain until it comes. (Rom. 8:2222For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22).) May our hearts be kept in a state of expectancy worthy of this great event, for which all heaven and earth are waiting.
But what was the result to those who thus stood faithful to the truth of God at all costs? They were cast into a burning fiery furnace; thus their faith was put to the test. The king is supreme in the earth, and for a time is allowed by God his own way.
Thus his character is brought out, and these faithful ones are tested. Deliverance is not always an immediate thing for us in the path of faith; God may and does allow us to be tested, to teach us there is enough in Him to meet and satisfy all our need. He would have the soul rice above the circumstances with which it is surrounded, and which may be trying to it, in order that it may be cast more entirely on Him; but once the lesson is learned, His end gained, “He who does not afflict willingly, or grieve the children of men, is there to prove Himself as the faithful One who has said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” “When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee... when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” And so it was; their faith is tried to the utmost; the furnace heated seven times hotter, so that “the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,” and they are cast down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace, when, lo, these three men are seen walking, loosed from their bonds, in the midst of the furnace, and a fourth is with them, and His form is as the “Son of God.” Blessed reality! And so it ever is; for if He allows our faithfulness to be tried, it is that we may be with Him, and know His power put forth on our behalf. For the remnant of godly Jews at the end of this age, of whom these are a type, this power will be shown by the destruction of their enemies, and bringing them into full millennial blessing. We are waiting for the Lord from heaven. We seek now to have the enjoyment of Him in our own souls.
What do we find Paul doing when everything here below had gone against him, delivered by his own people to the Gentiles, in their hands, shipwrecked, with nature against him, a serpent fastening on his hand, and finally a prisoner in Rome―what, I say, do we find him doing? Writing to the Ephesians, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” He had learned what Christ was, the portion that He had in Him. He needed nothing more. He had the greater, why trouble about the lesser. Such is the lesson we should learn from all this. Have we learned it? Do we know experimentally what it is to be dead with Christ, and, therefore, to everything contrary to Christ? We must mark, that faith and obedience are equally as absolute to the godly soul, as is the will of the king; and that is especially our place in this day. Faith in God, and obedience to His word at all costs. There can be no concession. It may cost one dear; it did Paul. “All they in Asia have turned away from me.” “At my first answer no man stood with me.” Notwithstanding “the Lord stood with me... and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” The result may not be made manifest at once; but it will be by and by. No act of faithfulness is forgotten before God. The appearing of Christ will settle all that. Then it will be made apparent to all, that a cup of cold water even, given in His name, has not been without a reward. Are we content to wait till then? To forego present advantages, to be content with food and raiment here, but to have everything in the world to come? not only that, but to have Christ Himself so manifested to our souls now, that trial and suffering will be rather a source of joy than sorrow, inasmuch as they become the channel through which the love and faithfulness of this blessed One are ministered to us.