I recently began reading a leader’s guide for a six-week study entitled, Three Simple Questions: Knowing The God of Love, Hope, and Purpose written by Rueben P. Job and Pamela C. Hawkins. Each question is designed to deepen our understanding of our relationship with God. They nudge us to elevate our personal walk; to withstand temptation, and make decisions with integrity as we embrace, with greater clarity our love and appreciation for our Creator. In Daniel 3, there is the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whose decision to not serve other gods, for the moment, placed them in great peril. As C.H. Spurgeon wrote, ” the narrative of the manly courage and marvelous deliverance of the three holy children, or rather champions, is well calculated to excite in the minds of believers firmness and steadfastness in upholding the truth in the teeth of tyranny and in the very jaws of death.” Their decision not to bow down, even though it meant certain death did not persuade them to seek the easy way out. For during their captivity they had learned the answers to the three simple questions.
What are the three simple questions?
Who is God? Who am I? What are we together?
Do you know the answers to the three simple questions? If you know the answers to the first two questions, what is your answer to the last one? What are we (God and I) together? The challenge, and amount of soul-searching involved in all three questions is inescapable. They require us to face, with regularity our faith in God, and our understanding of who and what we are. Do we truly know who He is? Do we believe in Him? Do we know who we are? Do we understand our purpose and our destiny? Or is our affirmative declarations merely routine responses based what is expected, and not on “the fiery furnace” personal experiences? These questions, for some are often addressed daily. Life’s trials and temptations lead us down the ” road to belief city” or the integrity path.” Then the question of “what are we together” comes into operation? Just what are we with God? What is our function, purpose, title, assignment, position, appointment, job, role, etc., with the Almighty? How is it [togetherness] seen by others? Do they see it, or is it some dreamlike mist? The even larger question is, can it be seen by us? How do we see ourselves with God? Just three simple questions.
Back to C.H. Spurgeon, who reflected upon the issue of integrity as he wrote about the courage of these three young men. Spurgeon emphasized that learning from their example, particularly for the young, “both in matters of faith in religion, and matters of uprightness in business, never to sacrifice their consciences” was paramount. Theirs was a decision borne out of a knowing who God is, and who they were with Him. Unshakeable in their resolve to go to death if need be for their faith, cannot be overlooked in this day of flimsy, wishy-washy convictions. He [Spurgeon] stated that “lose all rather than lose your integrity, and when all else is gone, still hold fast a clear conscience as the rarest jewel which can adorn the bosom of a mortal.” How often have we seen princes and paupers, celebrities, the rich and famous, and not so famous, fall from grace due to lack of integrity? “Be not guided by the will-o’-the wisp of policy, but by the pole-star of divine authority. Follow the right at all hazards. When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle. See whether he will be your debtor! See if he doth not even in this life prove his word that “Godliness, with contentment, is great gain,” and that they who “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, shall have all these things added unto them.” Our God is worthy of our faith. He has proven himself faithfulness since the beginning of time.
Three Simple Questions: “Who is God, who am I, and what are we together?”
“…to have a heart void of offence, to have the favor and smile of God, is greater riches than the mines of Ophir could yield, or the traffic of Tyre could win” is greater than all this world can offer. The priceless gold of spiritual joy of knowing who God is, and who you are with Him far exceeds all. Jesus was shown all the riches of world during his 40 days in the wilderness and did not bow down.
So, what are your answers to the three simple questions?
Loving God with Excellence 