What are you willing to die for, if anything? Is there anything worth such assurance or deep conviction that you would place your life on the line? If you were with those that formed this great nation back in 1776, would you be willing to sign the Declaration of Independence knowing this could mean your life
Fifty-six men, on the authority of the good people of the colonies, signed the Declaration of Independence, mutually pledging to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.
Place yourself in that room for a moment. There had been talks of such procedures for months. They had searched for all the right ways to handle this matter and felt certain this was the only way to overcome the situation. Being fully aware of all the possible implications of their measures, they pressed on to a vote. It was agreed by all that this signing of the document was like placing their name on a death list. It was voted upon. The motion passed with ease. Before your eyes you see them start to sign the document one by one. Then they hand the pen to you. What do you do? Is it worth the risk? Would you sign it? These men said yes.
Have you ever wondered what happened to the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signators were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the War, another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War.
What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Thousands since that time have died to keep this freedom. We as a people that love this land owe so much to those that place their lives on the line in love for this nation and the freedom found here.
Is there a cause you find that is worth dying for? We all have soap boxes to stand on and we want our voice heard on things that matter most to us. I love to tell PC users how good a MAC is. I love MAC computers and I feel they win hands down to PCs. But put a gun to my head if I do not change and I will change my view in a heartbeat. Although I love MACs, I would not die for one.
Now that was a ridiculous example, because no one is going to kill over a computer, would they? But how about your political views? In one way this is what those men did in 1776. But it was more then just political views. It was also a way of life and liberty. It was also for the freedom to worship as they saw fit.
Would you be willing to die for your faith? What does your faith mean to you?
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego was one of my favorite bible stories growing up. It is a tale of bravery, and God’s divine hand of providence in even the darkest of circumstances. It’s the telling of young men who were faithful to obey and exalt God and worship Him only. A God who they knew had the power to and would delivered them from the wrath of man if He saw fit. Few stories so vividly display the care of the Father for those who live in obedience despite the consequences.
The story centers around the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was much like a wave in the sea, driven and tossed by the winds of change. Several times in the book of Daniel, he professes that the God of Daniel and his companions is the one true God, but then we find him later building images of gold.
It is at this point that Nebuchadnezzar brings down his iron fist upon the people of Babylon. He demands their loyalty. By demanding that the people worship the idol, Nebuchadnezzar was asking for their allegiance. By worshipping the graven image, the people signified their loyalty and allegiance to King Nebuchadnezzar as if he was god. Pride ruled the king’s heart.
Nebuchadnezzar utters a decree that all will worship this image. He puts together a royal orchestra, and the people are called to give homage on a regular basis to this 100-foot idol. In the kingdom are three men of conviction who will not bow the knee though. There was no mistake that they knew the consequence of their disobedience. Just as the men that formed our nation stood strong before a king, these three knew that to stand against this king would mean a threat of death in the furnace.
Yet they wavered not from their convictions. The three were reported to the king. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego would be summoned before him. He would rage in fury as he asked for their loyalty, urging them to bow the knee in allegiance to him.
Then comes this great passage about these young men.
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
I love this statement. In my own words they said, Look King, God is indeed able to deliver us, but if God does not, let it be known, let it be clear to you dear King, we will not worship your image. If it means death, so be it.
What was the big deal? Why not just pretend to worship, and go on with life. The factor was love.
Remember in the play Julius Caesar, when Caesar was stabbed by Brutus? He cries out...you too Brutus? Brutus was his close friend and someone he could count on and this more then any other blow killed Caesar.
When I sin against God, his love is so great for his children that he too cries “you too Jim? Do you not love me? Did we not talk in prayer this morning together? Did you not tell me you love me then? How could you Jim? I love you, do you not love me?
You see, I think God would have forgiven those three young men if they had bowed down, for God’s grace is greater then all our sins. Remember how Peter denied Christ not once but three times in one day. God still used Peter. But there is something great here to see. What power comes upon man where he can give up his life to stay true to his faith? I feel the answer is clear.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a great love and respect for God. So great was this love that they were willing to die in order not to give that love away to another. They dare not let God see them bow to another god and have the true God say, how could you?
Do you have a love and desire to take a stand when it is right no matter what the cost? Fifty-six men did, as they signed our beloved document of freedom. Driven by a love for freedom many of them died in the end.
Do you love your God so much that you think of Him before you sin? Do you respect Him to the point, you hate to sin before His holy eyes? Three young men were willing to die in order not to sin, as shown by their love for God.
Is your faith worth dying for?