But if not... / Ms Adri Ludwick

Ms Adri Ludwick

Pianist / Sunday School Teacher - FBC Hammond, IN

Teacher - Hyles Anderson College

"But if not..."

I have loved the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego since I first heard it as a little girl in Sunday School class. It's found in Daniel 3, & that chapter paints such a descriptive story for us of 3 friends who so powerfully stood for Christ against all odds, and as a result saw God come through for them in a big way! It's such an awesome display of God's power, and it never gets old reading how Jesus showed up to be with them & save them out of the fiery furnace. 

  

A little over 2 years ago, I heard a lesson from Johanna McCroskey on 3 little words, buried right in the middle of that story, that have been life-changing for me. Johanna was one of my dearest friends, a 24-year old wife & mother of an adorable baby girl, & at the time she taught, battling her 3rd fight with cancer. I co-teach an adult ladies Sunday school class, and we asked Jo to be a guest speaker for us in February of 2015. Even though she was incredibly ill, she graciously agreed, and the lesson she taught that day, both vocally & through the power of a life that lives what it teaches, is something I will never forget.

Jo taught from Daniel 3:17 & 18: "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. 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." She pulled out the 3 little words, "But if not..." & taught a lesson about completely trusting God that had most of us in tears.

Looking at this story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, it's obvious that they had such strength and so much determination to stay true to their God. But in the midst of their strength & belief, they wanted to affirm to everyone present, that even if God didn't work it all out the way they thought He would or should, they still wouldn't back down or betray their God. "But if not..." I find this to be one of the most true & humbling examples of faith in the whole Bible. These men were boldly entering a fiery furnace, proclaiming to the world that their God would save them; but yet willing to sacrifice their lives if He didn't. "But if not..."  As humans, we can't see the whole picture. Our mortal minds will never completely understand the what or why of everything that comes into our life. But, we do get to choose how we handle the "fiery furnaces" that God brings into our lives. 

Jo never chose to believe she was dying. She had seen God work miracles before. He had healed her of cancer two other times, and she knew with all her heart that God would give her another miracle. She lived & believed that way, and her faith was convicting & powerful.  A little over a month after she taught our class, just days short of her 25th birthday, Jesus chose to take Johanna home to heaven. "But if not..." 

His ways are always right. He is always good. There's a peace that comes with the knowledge that we can completely rest in His care no matter what the outcome. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego walked out of a fiery furnace completely whole & unharmed. But, the Apostle Paul spent months in a jail cell, and then was beheaded for being a Christian. Both for the glory of God & the furtherance of the Gospel.

Life rarely goes the way we expect it to or think that it should. If it were up to us, bad things would never happen to good people. Life wouldn't hurt. There would be no tears. Why do you think we all love fairy tales so much? :) But God has every minute detail of our life orchestrated for our good & to bring Him the most glory. I wrote a song called "I Still Believe" not long after Jo died. The chorus says: "I still believe your way is right; I still trust in Your plan. I still believe in miracles, though I don't understand. I still believe You know what's best; I'll follow where you lead. So with all the pieces of my broken heart, I still believe." Whatever "fiery furnace" we're facing, whatever heartache is causing intense pain, we can trust in the goodness of an always kind Father. "But if not..."