“But If Not…”

The three words that take faith to a whole new level

Fireproof Faith in a World on Fire

We live in a world where the heat is always being turned up. Everywhere we look, there’s pressure—pressure to fit in, pressure to stay quiet, pressure to compromise.

Sometimes the pressure is cultural: holding biblical convictions in a world that calls truth “hate.” Sometimes it’s personal: facing illness, loss, or unanswered prayers while wondering why God hasn’t stepped in yet.

When life turns up the heat, what kind of faith does it take to stand firm?

The Three Most Courageous Words in the Bible

In Daniel 3, three young Hebrew men stood before King Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful ruler on earth, and a furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. Give in to the pressure of Babylon or face this fiery furnace. Their response is unforgettable:

“…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace… 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.”
(Daniel 3:17–18, NKJV)

Those three words— “but if not” —express faith at a level to which I aspire. At that level faith changes everything. They believed God could rescue them, but they trusted God even if He chose not to.

That’s fireproof faith, a faith that refuses to compromise, even when the cost is high. For these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they were prepared to die rather than deny their God..

Why this matters today

We may not face literal furnaces, but we do face pressures to compromise—whether it’s in our workplaces, social media, relationships, or when cultural norms conflict with God’s truth.

Standing firm in faith can come at a cost: ridicule, rejection, job loss, strained friendships, or worse. Our “fiery furnaces” today might look like:

• Being labeled intolerant for holding biblical convictions

• Standing alone in a workplace where cutting corners is normal

• Enduring unanswered prayers in the middle of illness or loss

• Facing uncertainty about the future in a culture of fear

Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we can trust that God is able to deliver us—but fireproof faith says, “Even if He doesn’t, I’ll still follow.”

What Fireproof Faith Looks Like

Fireproof faith isn’t blind optimism. It’s gritty trust:

• Dead to doubt – believing God’s promises even when the evidence says otherwise.

• Dumb to discouragement – refusing to let fear or cynicism rule the day.

• Blind to impossibility – knowing that God is bigger than what can’t be done.

It’s the kind of faith that keeps showing up, keeps obeying, keeps hoping—even when the fire is still raging.

The Best Part of the Story

When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he didn’t see three men—he saw four.

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the^[a] Son of God.” (Daniel 6:25 NKJV)

The miracle wasn’t just surviving the fire—it was discovering they weren’t alone in it.

And that’s still true today.

When People See Our Faith

Here’s the thing: Our friends, our coworkers, our kids—they’re watching.

When they see us walk through adversity—still trusting, still at peace—it speaks louder than any sermon. Our fire-tested faith tells the world that Jesus is real—and present—even in the hardest places.

So Here’s the Question:

Is your faith fireproof faith?

Today, followers of Jesus need this kind of faith more than ever—not just faith that God can, but faith that stays steady even if He doesn’t.

Because the world doesn’t need the testimony of Christians who avoid the fire—they need to see Christians who walk through the fire and come out without the smell of smoke.

Faith says, “God can.”
Fireproof faith says, “Even if He doesn’t, I’ll still follow.”