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

When King Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego into the fiery furnace, he was completely surprised by the outcome. He was surprised that: (1) They would defy him in the first place and disregard his command to bow to the golden image he had set up. (2) A fourth person (who he had not thrown in) appeared with them in the fire. (3) The fire which was so hot that it burned the guards who threw them in had no effect on them. (4) They were walking around loose in the fire.

Each of these surprises could be the subject of its own sermon, but when we focus on the last point we get some revelations about the relationship between fire and freedom.

1. It is possible to be loose in spirit and attitude while going through a fire of trial or trouble.
2. Sometimes, the very fire that was designed to kill you, actually burns off the bonds that once held you.
3. Once you are already in the fire, you become loose because you ask yourself, what else is there to lose?
4. The light of the fire lets you know that not even it can separate you from fellowship with Christ.
5. Once you escape the fire without hurt, you become freer and more fearless because you know that by the grace of God and with the help of the Lord, you can survive anything.