I WILL NOT BOW

Some days are darker than others.

Today is dark.

Darkness…the reality of that darkness…has settled in and my tears…your tears…begin to fall.

That story of obscene, unreal child abuse in the news from that city far away showed up in my office today.

On your exam table.

In the desk, two rows back from where you stand to teach every single day.

Sitting there is all of his or her innocence…I…you…watch a child…a child …in the midst of the darkest dark.

That soap opera of a tale…the sordid, manipulation and the affair…

In the house next door.

On the pew in front of you.

In your brother or sister’s family.

That illness you had always heard about from “other”, far removed families…

In your mother.

In your sister.

In your own child.

That rampant sexism and prejudice that you studied in school or have watched on TV…you heard…

From your co-worker.

From your friend.

From your pastor.

Sometimes the darkness does not seem as “evil”, but it is darkness all the same…the financial breakthrough you were counting on falls through, the coworkers you cannot stand to be around, the job you hate, the child who is difficult to parent, the friend who betrayed you.

It is dark today.

So much darkness…the reality of that darkness… how can it be?  Darkness that makes me want to tear someone’s hair out…shake them until they GET it.

And, I…you…find myself…yourself…overwhelmed and at the foot of an idol.

And, on its chest are many names.

FEAR

BITTERNESS

WORRY

CONTROL

HOPELESSNESS

FRENZY

And, we are told:

BOW.

I love the story of the three Hebrew boys in the third chapter of Daniel, who, along with thousands of others, are instructed to bow before an idol every time the music plays…or else they will be thrown into a fiery furnace.

They refuse.

WE WILL NOT BOW.

The king’s servants are distraught and go to tell the king of these three young men and their flagrant disobedience.  It tells us that the king is “furious” with “rage”. He asks the boys himself if what he hears is true.

Their response is almost humorous: “We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.”

In other words, we don’t have to explain ourselves.  Just know this:

WE WILL NOT BOW.

However, they continue and say:

“If we are thrown into the furnace…God…who is able…will rescue us” (Daniel 3:17).

Wow…what faith!  I mean, they are pretty sure of themselves there!  But, that is not my favorite part.

Here is my favorite.  Wait for it…

“But, even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image…you have set up.” (Daniel 3:18).

Even if He does not…

WE WILL NOT BOW.

He CAN.  He is ABLE.

But, EVEN IF HE DOES NOT.

WE WILL NOT BOW.

So, I am asking myself…and you…in the midst of all this darkness, in the face of the fiery furnace of pain, abuse, rejection, hostility, sexism, prejudice, favoritism, unfaithfulness…

What idol do I…do you…stand before?

What is its name?

Because I want to be able to look it square in the face, toe to toe, jaw set, eyes piercing…and say.

Today, this hour, this moment…

I WILL NOT BOW.

My God CAN deliver my boy from cancer.

But, even if He does not…

I WILL NOT BOW.

My God CAN mend my family and bring restoration to my marriage.

But, even if He does not…

I WILL NOT BOW.

My God CAN give me another job or new co-worker.

But, even if He does not…

I WILL NOT BOW.

My God CAN take care of our financial crisis.

But, even if He does not…

I WI LL NOT BOW.

FEAR…

I WILL NOT BOW.

BITTERNESS…

I WILL NOT BOW.

WORRY…

I WILL NOT BOW.

CONTROL…

I WILL NOT BOW.

HOPELESSNESS…

I WILL NOT BOW.

FRENZY…

I WILL NOT BOW.

But, even if He does not, we want you to know, O [Enemy], that we will not serve your gods or worship the image…you have set up.

So, this week, KNOW that an idol has been set up before you.  It is there…waiting for just the right music to be played…and, I encourage you to remember that as a child of God, the same strong faith that coursed through the veins and lived in the hearts of those Hebrew boys, takes residence in you.  You have the same heart as a Hebrew warrior and you…and I…can stand up to that idol, toe to toe, jaw set, eyes piercing…and say.

I WILL NOT BOW.

TODAY, this hour, this moment…all I know is…

I WILL NOT BOW.

And, that’s where the darkness loses.