HOW MUCH FAITH DO WE HAVE?
Written By: Peter Denby, Jr.

   As we all get bombarded with the negative of the school shooting/bombing in Littleton, Colorado, let me show you a ray of hope. A strength of faith of Biblical proportions.
   A young female student was in the school. She was approached by a gunman, who holding a gun to her head, asked if she was a Christian. There was no doubt that an answer of “yes” would mean certain death. It would have been easy for her to say “no” as Peter did in denying Christ almost 2000 years ago (Matthew 26:34, 69-75). However this child of faith chose to follow the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel Chapter 3.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faced with a decision as to whether to follow the law of king Nebuchadnezzar or the law of God. King Nebuchadnezzar “made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:10-11) ">God said“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) So the question was who should they (and this young lady) follow. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to follow God and were thrown into the firey furnace. “Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.” (Daniel 3:19) What do you think happened to them? They were fine, in fact the Bible say this of king Nebuchadnezzar’s observations,“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.” (Daniel 3:25) What a testimony! Read the whole story and find out the many wonders that it has. Also remember that there was no salvation by grace then.
   Later in the New Testament we see the story of Paul andSilas.  “And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.” (Acts16:20-24)  Paul and Silas were working for the Lord and were ‘stepping on the toes' of those who made money off of the impaired. After being tried and convicted falsely, and then beaten and thrown into the inner cell of prison, with their feet bound, what did they do?  “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:25) What followed is amazing, but then all things that God does are amazing. God made the earth shudder and opened the doors of the cells. The jailer was going to kill himself rather that allowing the officials to do so. It was the law that the jailer would die for allowing prisoners in his custodty to escape. Rather that suicide the jailer received salvation through grace.  Read the rest of the story for more. (Acts 16:16-40)
   Now for “the rest of the story.” The young lady in Littleton, Colorado told the gunman that YES she was a Christian. Death was immediate. Her witness was seen by many people and has created a large amount of questions about what they need to do to be saved. Bible studies are at an all time high. Some will actually learn the truth and become Christians. This lady will be in Heaven for you to meet if you “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
   There is a Southern Gospel Song that says that the person would rather see a sermon than hear one anyday. What more powerful sermon could one preach?  Matthew 28:19-20 says“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” What a better way to do this than the way mentioned above?