The Fourth Man
Chaplain Bill Wolfe
Llano County Sheriff’s Department
HAP-PEEE NEW YEA.oh.Hello, and welcome to the first Chaplain’s Corner of 2007. When we were kids, my brother and I would always spend New Year’s Eve at our grandparent’s house and we’d always watch Guy Lombardo and always watch the same movie. I don’t remember the name of the movie now, but it’s one of the Classics. The movie ended with the ballroom full of people singing Auld Lang Syne and one of the main characters shouting "Hap..pee New Year." <sigh> Fond memories.
Well, ready or not, here it is 2007. I’m looking at the new year with mixed emotions. I’m sure events will come in our lives that will be fond memories years down the road. At the end of February I turn 54; the same age my Dad was when he passed from this life. That has its own set of emotions. I’m hoping that we’ll get a break in the drought. I’m a bit apprehensive about how the situation in the Middle East and the changes in our national government will play out. But it’s all in God’s hands; ain’t a whole lot I can do about it except hold on for the ride and pray.
I’ve recently gone back and have been rereading the Old Testament Book of Daniel, and things are really falling into place, lining up for the "Last Days." It’s kind of thrilling because it verifies the accuracy of the ancient Hebrew prophets.
One of my favorite Bible passages is found in Daniel. I think a lot of folks have heard the story about Daniel in the lion’s den, but perhaps fewer have heard the names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Their tale is found in the 3rd chapter of Daniel, if you want to look it up. (What’s that? You don’t have a Bible in your glove box? If you want one, mail me and I’ll send you one.)
Okay, So what’s the scoop on these three? Well, let me see if I can come up with a "Reader’s Digest" version. These three young men were minding their own business when the ruler of Babylon decided that everyone should follow his religion and worship as he said or their lives would be forfeit. Talk about forcing one’s convictions on everyone else! The three copped an attitude and said "Ain’t gonna do it; you can’t make us." Well, that put the fat in the fire, literally. The King got his nose seriously bent out of shape and ordered them to be thrown into a blast furnace.
Now comes the best part. (Note: never take jailers out on a fire.) The jailers who brought the trio to the furnace forgot their bunker gear and became toasted marshmallows as they threw the three into the fire. But something tremendous happened! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego weren’t killed by the fire; they weren’t even singed. And they were joined in the midst of the furnace by a fourth Man who didn’t come in the same way as they did. The king looked in and saw them and declared that the fourth Man looked like the Son of God.
Well, glory! That Scripture always gets me energized. I KNOW that it’s highly unlikely that something like that will happen to me or even in this country. (Any persecution of Christians is a bit more subtle, for the time being at least.) But along with other Scriptures, it confirms that whatever comes this next year, if I’m standing firm in my faith in Christ, He will be there to see me through.
In the Psalms, David says God will be with us through the valley of the shadow of death. In the Book of Daniel, when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, the God he served saved him. Over in the New Testament, when Peter was about to drown, Jesus reached out His hand and pulled Peter to safety.
Forrest Gump once said, "Stupid is as Stupid does." Well, Peter and I may make some stupid mistakes, but Jesus loves us anyway and is always ready to pull us out or walk through the fire with us. It’s not about rules. It’s about a relationship: taking a stand for Him and then reaching out to Him for help when we find things too hot or the water too rough to handle.
Another new year, plenty of opportunities for letting God show you that He’s real and can make a difference in your life. Give Him a chance. What have you got to lose?
Thanks for "riding along" for the past year. Glad to have you aboard for 2007. Blessings to you and yours.
Chaplain Bill
llanochaps@moment.net
