There is an avid fascination with having role models in our lives. Athletes are constantly being placed in such a position; presidents, cultural leaders, and others are elevated to this lofty position. Many of these individuals while excellent at what they do, don't always meet the standards of what role models should be. In fact, Charles Barclay (basketball player) went to the extent of saying, "I'm not a role model." He realized his limitations. But for the Christian, role models are plentiful. We see role models from the O.T. to the N.T. Individuals who in the midst of great trials showed their faith, obeyed God, and were rewarded. God cannot lie, and those who take Him at His word have never been let down. Sometimes God uses miraculous means, sometimes He uses providential means, and sometimes He simply finds a man who will do the job for Him. But the exciting thing is that people with no chance even though in the right come out victorious because God helps them. Remember these people had no more assurance that God would help them than we do today.

Consider Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego in Daniel Ch 3:14-18. After Daniel interprets King Nebudcanezzar's dream of the "Great Image," which was full of splendor and excellence and described not only King Nebudcanezzar’s kingdom but those that would follow, after promoting not only Daniel, but his friends; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for all their efforts, after all these things, King Nebudcanezzar makes an image of gold, which stood some 90 feet tall.

He proclaimed that all should bow and worship this image when the music sounded; if one refused then they shall be put to death by means of a fiery furnace. Most did except a few Jews (3:8-14). These three men did not know whether God would deliver them in a way that Nebudcanezzar could see or not, but they knew God would deliver them one way or another. Finding true faith within our hearts in not always as easy as getting excited and thrilled about seeing it in the hearts of others. It is much easier to get excited and thrilled about seeing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stand up to King Nebudcanezzar and later accept their sentence of death than for us to stand up for our convictions. It is much easier for us to watch Daniel pray in front of others than it is for us to pray in front of others. It is much easier to watch Jesus take moral and spiritual stands against the evils of his day than it is for us to take such a stand. It is easier for us to watch with admiration when Moses gave up the wealth and ease of Egypt for ill treatment with the people of God than it is for us to give up our pleasures and give more to the Lord and His kingdom. You see it's just easier…

Yet whether it is easier or not, it still must be done if we are to be like them. The characteristic found in these individuals is necessary. The characteristic that made their sacrifices into meaningful examples, which we should willingly follow, is faith.

Notice in Heb 11:1----It was by faith...Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain (vs. 4), Enoch was taken from this world (vs. 5), that Noah prepared an ark (vs. 7), Abraham left his own country (vs. 8), he offered Isaac up as a sacrifice (vs. 17), Moses gave up all wealth and ease (vs. 23-29), that the walls of Jericho fell (vs. 30), on and on (vs. 32-39). It is easier for us to read about these things than it is for us to bring them into being in our own lives...

This is an important question vs. 39 of Hebrews 11 says that these have obtained a good testimony through faith. It would behoove us to be like them, in order to have our faith be a good testimony for us.

In Phil 4:6-7 Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” One way we can know if we are like these people is by believing in the promises of God. We are not to look with fear and dread or with anxiety to the future. We are not to allow the loneliness and difficulties of this world consume us, we are to cast our cares on Him who cares for us, knowing that we are fellow workers with him. In 1 Pet 5:7 it says, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you,” and in 2 Cor 6:1 we read, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” We should lay everything, whether it be affliction, embarrassment, or trials, everything relating to our spiritual condition, should be laid at our God's feet through prayer. The Scriptures teach plainly that God is pleased with prayer and He is ready to hear and bless them that come to Him. One important and essential condition is that the prayer must be in earnest and from the heart. When the heart earnestly desires a thing, it bends all the energies of the soul and body to the accomplishment of the end desired. Then when the heart prays for a thing the body is brought into active service to obtain it. The earnestness of the service in seeking the obedience is the measure of the desire of the heart. The thing needed to gain acceptance and favor for our prayers is earnest, self-sacrificing labor, and devotion on our part to gain that for which we pray. Then God will hear and grant our petitions. What is needed for our own good is to realize that our service to God should be more earnest and devoted full of self-sacrifice, which was evident in the lives of those characters in the Bible.

Verse 7 gives us the promise, the peace and composure of God is given to those that trust in him. Jesus possessed it, as he lived a sinless and perfect life. Nothing ever excited his fear or apprehension. Amid all dangers and trials and threatening that would appall others he was quiet and composed. This peace, as stated, surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts. God gives all who trust him that peace of mind, which no one, from a human standpoint, can understand.