A couple weeks ago, I met a man with an interesting tattoo written across his bicep, though not in your typical tattoo green. “But if not,” I read aloud. When I asked what his tattoo meant, the man told me the phrase was from the Bible.
This is the story the tattooed man told me:
King Nebuchadnezzar II reigned over Babylon from 605 BC- 562 BC. He conquered Judah and the city of Jerusalem, taking young Jewish men of noble or royal birth as captives. The book of Daniel tells the survival and incredible faith of four Jewish captives: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar decided to build an enormous 90-foot tall golden statue in modern day Iraq. He gathered all the important people in his empire and commanded them to fall down and worship the statue whenever they heard music. Soon, the beautiful melody of horns, harps, and pipes spread throughout the area. In response, people fell on their faces, hands outstretched in worship.
To Nebuchadnezzar’s fury, a report was brought to his attention. Three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refused to bend their knee and worship the gold statue. In a rage, the king commanded that the trio appear before him.
“Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not worship the golden image I have set up? When you hear the sound of music, fall down and worship the image that I have made. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And what god will deliver you out of my hands?”
The three men replied without hesitating, “O King, we don’t need to answer you. Our God is able to deliver us from the burning fire, and he will deliver us from your hand. But if not, we will still not bow down and worship the statue.”
Much faith and courage is crammed into those three tiny words, “But if not.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew the Sovereign Lord had the ability to rescue them from the king. They had no doubt in God’s powerful might. But if God decided not to rescue them, they still possessed the courage and the faith to stand in their convictions.
I asked myself, when my prayers are answered with “But if not,” will I still continue to trust in God?
King Nebuchadnezzar grew so angry his face became mottled from rage. He ordered the fire to be stoked to seven times its usual heat. The extreme temperature of the flames killed the soldiers throwing in the faithful trio. The king looked into the fire and, to his utter surprise, saw four men walking around the furnace instead of three. The fourth man, he claimed, looked like the son of the gods.
He called out the three men. Not only did God protect them from a fiery death, but from the smell of smoke as well. King Nebuchadnezzar praised God, blessing the Lord who saved his faithful servants.
After the tattooed man finished his story, I noticed that “But if not” is spelled with eight letters, the same amount of letters in the word “faithful.” The trio’s faithfulness caused a prideful king to praise the Almighty name of the Lord of Hosts.
Although a tattoo isn’t on my To-Do list, I had to admit this would be a pretty cool one to receive.
Where have you seen the results of faithfulness to a “but if not” in your life?
*Photo courtesy of here
a tattoo isn’t on my to-do list either, but this one almost convinced me 🙂
I see the “but if not” when the Holy Spirit is pressing me to have a hard conversation in order to fix a relationship. I don’t know if the person will blow up or not. I don’t know if I’ll lose a friend. But whatever happens, I’ve obeyed and that is enough.
Thank You Margaret, this really touched my heart and encouraged me. Pastor Steve
Steve,
Thanks a lot–that means a ton!
Thanks! What an awesome story …. Especially the day after a very important election did not turn out as I had hoped, prayed.
Blessings!
If I wanted a tattoo this would be the one. It always amazes me when such small things can make such a huge impact! Thanks an blessings.
Looking back thru some old notes and found this – had been looking for this article not that long ago. This verse – and phrase – was key to me way back in 1987 when I had moved out of state for a new job (which didn’t turn out well) and during which time my mom was given 3 to 6 months to live due to leukemia. Obviously I prayed for her healing, but some time during that period, God gave me “but if not”. I was to keep praying, “but if not”…
Mom wasn’t healed (in the earthly sense anyway!), but God did transition those 8 letters in keeping me faithful. Thanks Margaret.
Awesome! Tattoos are not so bad after all!!
Yes
1 Corinthians 3, James 2.
You have to admit that this one is pretty clever and quite meaningful. Very inspiring!
Having tattoo’s myself I can relate with this Man. 2 of my tattoo’s have spiritual meaning & often use them to witness to people. Being on the cusp on being sold out to Jesus I still have a few things to surrender too. God’s been stiring in me. I desire to being Sold Out to Jesus.
Dont care about money and power. Just want to feel something when I’m at church. I want to believe…… I find myself going more or less because? Well, I don’t really know at this point.
Hi Margaret,
You say the mans tattoo was not in your typical green. What color was it in?
Also, I have been asking God what it truly means to be sold out to God. Is the answer in this article? I don’t know. But thank you for sharing it, it touched my heart.
-Carmen
So inspiring, thanks for sharing. I asked God to grant me more courage to stand out for him.
The Bible says don’t mark your body so how can you think that would be a good idea make sense