The "Even If" Principle
This morning I had the opportunity to reflect on the story of the 3 Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, from whom we can draw the "Even If" Principle for our daily Christian living. The first time I learned of this principle was at dinner with my mentor. After I had poured out my heart, he asked if I had my Bible with me, and when I handed it over to him, he turned the pages to the Book of Daniel 3: 16-18 "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown in into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand O king. But even if He does not , we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." I must confess that I had never even seen that little phrase tucked in there and as he spoke to me, these words then made sense; that in our Christian...