As previously noted in the last tidbit, we are familiar with God’s saving grace, the gift of salvation. But His saving grace also touches every part of our lives. As the Bible shows, God’s Spirit sometimes intervenes to save us from certain death, injury, and the traps the enemy sets.

     In the book of Daniel, chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image. It was announced that when people hear a specific sound, along with all kinds of music, they are to bow down and worship the golden image. Now Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refusing to bow down and worship the only true God, were brought before the king. In his fury, the King commanded the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. 

   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were then cast into the fiery furnace. Astonished, the King saw the men walking in the fire unharmed, with a fourth person like the Son of God among them. Calling them, they came out of the furnace unharmed. The King then made a decree that no one should speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

    I once lived on an old farmhouse with my friend Charlie Kur. Our job was to collect chicken eggs and take care of the farm. One night, at 4:00 am, I suddenly woke up from a deep sleep.  I then noticed the floor. It was burning from underneath from a fire in the basement. There was no smoke, but I could see through the burning red coals into the basement. 

     Jumping out of bed, I went into the next room to wake up Charlie. I was walking on a floor of coals that was about to collapse. “Charlie, wake up,” I said. He was in a deep sleep. After several tries, he finally, in a sleepy voice, said, “What do you want?” “Get up,” I yelled. The house is on fire! “No, it isn’t,” he replied. “Then why are there flames coming out of the floor register?” He looked at the flames and shot out of bed.

   Running as fast as we could, with Charlie leading, we exited through the kitchen door. A huge flame burst out of the door behind us. We stopped a short distance away and watched the flames shoot through the roof. If we had stayed in the house a few seconds longer, neither of us would be alive today. How do I explain walking on coals? God’s saving grace.

    The fire started when Charlie overfilled the furnace with wood, causing it to overheat and ignite the floor above. From there, it spread across the floor and up through the walls. The old farmhouse was built in the early 1900s. Back then, there was no insulation in the walls—only newspaper. The hollow parts of the wall provided a path for the flames to rise quickly.

    I found out later that my brother Ernest was visited by an angel who told him to pray for me.  I am thankful for my brother’s prayer and God’s sovereign protection. Why doesn’t God do this for everyone? All I can say with thanksgiving is praise God for the times when He does.

 In His heart and love,

                                         Roy Roden