Why Is Faith So Tough To Prove?

I once met NFL legend Walter Payton. “Sweetness” was the keynote speaker at a fundraiser and my mom, who worked for the city at the time, was able to get me a seat alongside all of the dignitaries. At the end of the event I got the chance to talk to Mr. Payton and he shook my hand. It’s one of those childhood memories that will always stay with me. But I can’t prove to you that I met Walter Payton. You just have to take my word for it.

I could probably dig up a number of facts about the fundraiser. With the internet I likely could find information including the exact date of the event. Most likely there is a story or two from the local newspaper and they might even carry Mr. Payton’s picture. I doubt they mention me though. I was just a starstruck kid with a well connected mom. Unfortunately any pictures I had with him or any autographs he gave me were destroyed years ago (long story). So the facts that would put Mr. Payton in town on a certain date do nothing to prove that I actually met him.

There’s someone else that I’ve met but would have a tough time proving to anyone that I know Him. In fact I’ve been blessed with a relationship that has lasted well over thirty years. God has revealed Himself to me in many ways over those thirty some odd years, to the point where my faith is built on the word of His testimony as communicated in my heart by His Spirit. Yes, I could probably dig up a bunch of facts and even some archeological findings that prove a number of the events that are recorded in the Bible but that wouldn’t prove that God exists or that I know Him. Yes, I seek truth but at the end of the day my faith is built on the revelation of His glory and His testimony is what substantiates His Bible for me.

Recently I got caught up in a Twitter conversation during which I put on a very poor showing. The other person challenged me to produce facts and then accused me of not wanting to know the truth when I refused to do so. For the record, I refused because I’ve played that game before and found that at the end of the day it’s a losing proposition based on the fact that the argument answers the wrong questions. In reality only two questions matter. Does God exist? Is He who the Bible says He is? I know the answer to both questions but could never prove those answers during the course of an online conversation. To do so I would have to prove that I know God and I can’t do that anymore than I can prove that I met Walter Payton.

Why is faith so tough to prove? It’s tough because it boils down to something that only the Holy Spirit Himself can prove to others. All I can do is live in obedience to the will of God and to what I know to be true. His light, revealed in the testimony of my life, will reveal His existence.

Remaining in the Furnace

Why didn’t Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego immediately run out of the fiery furnace? The king declared that he saw the three of them (plus one extra individual) walking around in the furnace. When the king calls to them they walk out. It doesn’t say they rolled or hopped out still bound in their clothing. They were free to walk about, presumably set free by the one whom the king described by saying, “...the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25 NKJV) So why did they wait until the king called to them before the three of them walked out of the furnace?

To be honest, I don’t know the answer. Perhaps they were being obedient to the governing authorities. Perhaps they were so in awe of being in the presence of “the Son of God” that they did not want to come out. Maybe it was some combination of reasons. Whatever the reason, by going into and remaining in the fiery furnace, the three served to change the king’s perspective on who was really in control.

Let’s take a step back to look at how these three wound up in this position in the first place and how they had such a profound impact on the government power at hand.

Daniel 3:1-7

This situation started with a decree from King Nebuchadnezzer, ordering the people to do something that was in direct conflict with the Jewish faith. The commandment ordering them to have no other gods before the Lord God was clear and the Jews were not allowed to bow before any idol or to worship any statue or for that matter any person. This was the government keeping Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego from practicing their faith.

Around the world today there are governments that restrict the practice of religious faith, asking people to bow to whatever idol the leaders prefer. In some of those countries the punishment for professing Christ as Lord is as dire as what these three faced. We haven’t reached that point in the United States although there are attempts by some to limit the faith. I suspect that over time these attempts will be more and more successful, forcing Christians to choose between their freedom and their faith.

Daniel 3:8-15

How did Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego respond to the king’s decree? They continued to live according to what they believed which meant only worshiping the LORD. Their enemies testify to the fact that the three did not take the easy path of compromise. They risked everything in order to do what was right. In doing so they set a great example for us to follow today.

Those around us should be able to see our convictions. They should be able to see that we do not bow down to the idols that are popular in the culture around us. The key here is the fact that you never know what people will notice. For example, I’ve had coworkers comment on the fact that I do not swear. I’ve never told anyone that I see no point in resorting to curse words but they’ve noticed. People should be able to see how we change and grow in Christ, along with how our obedience remains consistent no matter the circumstances.

Here I must point something out. Those around you tend to be able to recognize “fake” when they see it. They can also recognize when someone does the right thing with the wrong motives. People know the difference between someone who speaks to them with a loving heart versus someone who simply wants to control the public square. And believe it or not, I think people can tell the difference between someone who is operating in the power of the Holy Spirit versus someone who is acting out of their own self-interests. Above all, God sees all. He knows your heart and can tell the difference between someone who is driven by devotion to Him versus someone driven by their own religious idols, even if they call those idols Christianity.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego did not try to pick a fight with the king nor did they show up at the king’s door demanding their rights. They simply lived according to their faith, letting God direct their path: a path that brought them face to face with the king.

Daniel 3:16-18

When questioned by the king, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego testified to the power of God. They didn’t tell the king how evil and sinful he was. This would have made the king the focus (which is what he wanted anyway) and he would have missed the true message: There is only one God. They also did not try to defend themselves nor did they claim the right to defy the king. This would have turned the focus on themselves. Instead they spoke about God, pointing to His ability to deliver them. Their focus remained right where it belonged: on God. They end the conversation with a statement of their true allegiance. No matter what, they would not sin against their God.

Daniel 3:19-25

The punishment for failing to do what was culturally acceptable was death by fire. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego did not face their punishment alone. Someone joined them in the fiery furnace, someone the king described as being of a higher power. I think it’s safe to say they were abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. As we serve our Lord we do not walk alone. God has promised that He will never leave His children nor will He forsake them (Hebrews 13:5). No matter how hot the fire, remember who stands beside you.

Not only was God with them but it appears that He untied them. Going into the furnace they were bound in their own clothing. Yet, when the king looks in he sees them walking freely in the furnace. This brings me back to the question I started with. Why didn’t they walk out before the king called them out? Again, I do not know the answer for sure. It just seems to me that wherever God is, even if it’s in the midst of a fire, it’s best to be with Him.

Daniel 3:26-30

As King Nebuchadnezer ordered Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego to come out of the furnace, he had a spiritual epiphany. I don’t know if he became a full fledged believer but this was a step in the right direction. What brought him to this point? Was it the words that were spoken in defiance of his law? No, it was not. In fact what was said to him made him really angry. What changed him was experiencing the presence and power of God in the lives of those who told him the truth. The process works the same way today. As followers of Christ we should speak the truth. But we must do so knowing that what changes a person’s heart is the presence and power of God in the lives of His children as they stay in the furnace, living their lives according to His will.

Sometimes You Just Need Some Time Off

February was a difficult month for me, a month where I felt like I needed more than 24 hours per day. I was very busy and even accomplished a thing or two, but I just couldn’t get to the tasks that I really wanted to do. In fact, my only accomplishments were ones that had deadlines. Everything else fell by the wayside. I did some writing but only where something was due. With no deadlines, my blog suffered neglect. (Thank you and sorry to those who kept checking in during the last few weeks.) Other than news and magazines, I did not do any real reading and it was hard to relax while watching my to-do list get longer. Unfortunately this is not the first time this has happened but this time around I knew exactly what I needed: time off.

For the record, this “time off” was not like my usual vacation time. I didn’t go anywhere or plan any special activities. I basically set aside a week where, for the most part, I hoped to avoid distractions. This of course meant a week away from the day job’s demands and the requirements that come with the position. This was a week where I could think without being bothered or write without being bothered or read or work on the house or…sit and do nothing…all without distractions. Fortunately, unlike the last couple of years, I have the house to myself (except for the cat) because there are no lockdowns or virtual school or any other reason for someone else to be home. It’s just me, the cat, a smart speaker, my thoughts and God.

Sometimes you just need some time off. I used my time for prayer and for time spent without distraction in order to allow God to bring me back into alignment with His will. I spent the time reminding myself of what is really important to me. My time off was like hitting a big reset button, clearing my mind so that I could think about the path I choose to take. I needed a week to catch my breath and to remind myself to keep breathing. And now I feel ready to live instead of just doing.

Sometimes you just need some time off. Just writing that makes me feel a whole lot better.