Daniel 3:18 – “ But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Faith faces constant pressure.
In the first century, persecution claimed lives as they demanded that faith be renounced, or at least watered down.
As it became socially acceptable, the pressure was to blend in a little more — to bend conviction to make the hard choices more acceptable to the skeptic.
Finally, Christianity began to lose its meaning entirely.
But we must find a place where we say, “I will not be moved.” We need to have “nail-house” faith.
Nail houses are a fascination in China.
Expansion of large structures means people who have lived in a small house are forced to move, almost always against their will.
But some refuse.
Shacks stand in stark contrast to the modern buildings or the hard curves of highways built around them.
They are called “nail houses” because they look like a nail hammered into the ground. They will not move.
In one place, an elderly couple has a nail house that sits in the middle of a road. They refused to be moved.
It has always been a hallmark of God’s people that they are “nail-house people.”
The prophets, like Amos and Jeremiah, felt the wrath of kings but refused to change their message demanding repentance of stubborn and arrogant people.
In Lystra, opponents dragged Paul outside the city and stoned him.
John was exiled to Patmos.
But perhaps the most vocal nail-house believers were the three young men taken to Babylon against their will.
Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, demanded absolute adoration, including bowing to the statue of his image.
The sound of the music signaled the demand to bow. Those who did not faced a furnace of fire.
But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to anyone but the God of heaven.
Their defiance was absolute. “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'” (Daniel 3:16–18, NIV)
And God saved them.
When your faith is challenged, gather your courage and make your life a nail-house life.
- Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
