“If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel 3:17-18
It seems like every week – maybe even every day – I run into people who are facing very difficult times in their lives. I visit with men and women in hospitals, those who've lost loved ones, those with heartaches and family problems. But I've found there is a glorious difference in the believer who has a “but if not” belief.
A "but if not" belief is a relentless trust in God, like that of the young Hebrew men in today's passage who had a steadfast belief that God could deliver them. Yet even if God did not, they still remain faithful and true to Him, knowing He is their ultimate deliverer.
You can’t defeat a man or a woman who has that kind of faith! You know why? Because their ultimate hope is not in worldly deliverance, but in the ultimate deliverance that Christ will bring when He comes to rule, and sin and death are no more.
A "but if not" Christian stands boldly in the face of any circumstance. So commit yourself to trusting in God's ultimate deliverance, no matter what you may be experiencing today. On that day, He will proclaim final justice and conquer your pain and sorrow forever!
BE A "BUT IF NOT" CHRISTIAN BY TRUSTING WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN GOD'S PROMISED DELIVERANCE, NO MATTER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE!
