Dear child of God, in the book of Daniel we saw three Youths who defied the orders of the ungodly king by refusing to worship idol, no matter the consequences.
These Youths knew the truth and refused to change their stance even when facing the fiery furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to be used, refused to be swayed by any reward. They prefigure Jesus, who in the Gospel of John faced the “fiery furnace” of the Cross for our sake, but did not shy away from the Cross; since love can go to any extent in making sacrifices for the beloved. Love hurts!
These three young men challenge most of our youth today who can do anything abominable, for the mere love of lucre. Choose to remain firm in the truth, that will set you free as Jesus pointed out in the Gospel of John 8:31-42.
INSTEAD OF RUNNING AWAY FROM THE “FIRES” WE FIND OURSELVES, LET US SEARCH FOR JESUS- “THE ONE LIKE THE SON OF GOD”, HE IS THERE WITH US IN OUR DIFFERENT “FIRES”.
As Christians too; let us not forget that Jesus continues to move along with us in our different “fiery furnaces”, even when He seems silent and absent during those “fiery furnaces of life”, He is nevertheless present, just trust Him and the process and keep your hope alive in Him and the end will be for your greater good and His glory.
Dear child of God, the Youth of today faces a more horrible, sinister, pervasive and massive furnaces today. It is not only the denial of the true God, that is required of the Youth of today! The Youth of today is expected to deny God or at least become so skeptical about anything that concerns God and religion.
The Youth goes after lucre and ephemeral things that does not last, they join occult and secret cults that parade different and enticing names, just to become rich and popular. But they end up desperate, sick, disappointed and die. Very few Youth today know the dignity of hard work and joy that comes from the saying that “patience pays”! They want to “make it so quick” in the areas of the three P’s. POWER, PRESTIGE & PLEASURE. Let us learn from the three young men in the book of Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95. who refused to become billionaires through worshipping of idols.
Today’s Youth are ready TO WORSHIP ANYTHING AND DO ANYTHING to become millionaires! But such riches do not last, and those involved die terrible deaths regretting their wasted lives, but then; it will be too late for repentance.
Finally, the Jews in the Gospel of John had failed to be liberated because of their refusal to accept the teachings of Jesus. Even though they claim Abraham as father, but they live in-opposition to what he stood for. Jesus is here to liberate us and give us that needed freedom to call God, Abba Father, and acknowledge Abraham as our father in faith; if only we can cling to his teachings. May the teachings of Christ dwell always in our hearts and lives. Amen. Blessings to you and to your family.
+ REV FR EMMANUEL UZOH (NWACHINAEMERE)
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