Is it Possible to be Burned and not Smell Like Smoke?

The Bible is filled with verses that reference fire. Whether it be the refiners fire or the fire of an altar, God uses fire. Today I want to focus on the fire mentioned in the book of Daniel. Specifically, chapter 3 verses 25 and 27. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

Allow me to give a quick back story to this account. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are the three men that were tossed into the fiery furnace. They would not worship the golden image, that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. These brave men did not allow their fear of the detrimental consequences to hinder their worship of Almighty God. They tapped into that supernatural strength that only our Father can supply. Can you imagine their thoughts as they heard the King instruct his men to heat the furnace even hotter? Only God can supply the endurance to survive a trial of this magnitude. But survive they did.

Trials are a part of this sinful world. We can not change that but what we can change is our perspective. We do not have to be a victim of our circumstances. We are MORE than conquerors through Him. When we are burned by fiery trials, it is our faith in God that allows us to see Christ in those trials. God allows those trials to grow us, to burn off the old sinful ways and replace them with a smoke-free outlook. Let me explain.

Notice in verse 25 that not only were the men LOOSE, they were not hurt. When our bound bodies and minds are thrown into fiery trials we must not forget that God is with us and will remove the ropes of spiritual bondage that have us entangled. The ability to come out of a hard season in life unhurt is possible. I did not say it was easy but it is achievable. The strength is ONLY supplied by the Lord. Our faith must take center stage. If we rely on ourselves to save us, we will perish every time. We must rely on that fourth man, the Son of God. The choice can be made to come out of the fire without the slightest odor of smoke.

These men emerged victorious. God was with them before, during and after their trial. The fire had NO power. Just that statement alone is awe-inspiring. Let me repeat: the fire had NO power. Do not give the fire you are in the power to burn you. You can emerge without the smell of smoke. We all have been singed at times in our lives. We are human but with those burnings, growth should come with it. Praise God that He makes a way through the refiners fire to come out with all the impurities gone. A beautiful instrument fit to go to work for Him. Are you still living in the fire? Have you recently come out of the fire? Do you still have the lingering smell of smoke from that trial on your clothes? Or do you have no evidence of having been burned, only the proof of a new-found strength in God? So yes, you can emerge from the fire smoke-free.