Articles
Fire
I remember the first wildfire I ever witnessed in person.
Fires in Colorado aren’t the same as they are in Alabama. When you see smoke here, most people think nothing of it, assuming someone has a burn pile. A person could be thrown in jail for something like that out west, where any spark can cause a life-threatening fire that can quickly consume hundreds of acres, then thousands of acres and sometimes much more than that. During the hot, dry, summer months, a windy day has people on edge, fearing the worst could happen at any moment. They take fires seriously there.
Growing up, I lived in a neighborhood built around a large, open field. My house was one of a hundred that backed up to that field. One Independence Day, someone shooting illegal fireworks caught the field on fire. The entire neighborhood was at risk and the fire department was too busy to send any help. It was up to the community to save themselves and their property. Everyone gathered shovels and whatever tool they thought might be useful and raced towards the growing blaze.
My older brother and sister joined the fight. I, however, was too young, so Mom sent me to get my shoes on and prepare to evacuate. There was a hint of panic in her voice. I knew not to argue, or to delay. The fire was coming!
I raced upstairs and grabbed my shoes. From this elevated position, looking out the window, I caught my first real glimpse of a wildfire. It wasn’t what I expected. In fact, I remember giving a sigh of relief, and stopped rushing. This fire wasn’t so scary, I thought to myself. Everything would be fine.
As I casually walked down the stairs, my Mom scolded me for being so slow. “It’s almost out,” I told her, then described what I saw.
I thought I would see every inch of the field engulfed in monstrous flames. Acre upon acre of flames. Instead, it was a ring of flames surrounding a huge blackened section of scorched earth. To me, there was more of the field already burned out than burning so the fire was almost out. The threat was over.
“That’s what field fires look like,” Mom told me. “It isn’t almost out. It’s just spreading and leaving nothing behind in its wake. Now hurry!”
Fortunately, enough people had sprung into action that they were able to stop the fire before it reached any homes. But how foolish was I? In the face of imminent danger, I acted like nothing was wrong. Ignorance is a terrible thing.
How many people are casually going through life, because they don’t recognize—or fear—the fires of judgment that are coming their direction? “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire… His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Mt. 3:10,12). The fire is coming. The flames are unquenchable; no one will put them out. Our only hope is to escape. Turn to Jesus for salvation. Do not delay.
The world and all that is in it is about to be burned up (II Pet. 3:10). “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (II Pet. 3:11-12). Turn from the ways of the world, and live a spiritually focused, righteous, and God-pleasing life. This is the only way to escape the fire that is coming.
