Fleeing the Fire
The California wildfires have been one of the hottest news stories. Acres of land have burned to the ground, homes have been ruined and thousands were forced to evacuate as they waited for the fire to burn itself out. Yet, one news story caught my attention. It was about a family who died in the wildfire. Though they were informed of the evacuations, and asked to leave their home, they refused to do so. Their house was destroyed and they died.
It is shocking to hear of people so in love with their homes they will risk their own lives. Some seem to live in blind arrogance assuming they are invincible to the fires ready to consume them. All they had to do was leave and live.
Nevertheless, this type of behavior occurs more often that we might like to admit. Deuteronomy 4:24 says, “...the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” By this passage, Moses is claiming that God longs for our affection. He wants us to evacuate the life of sin and cling to Him. Yet, many ignore God and His will and assimilate to the comfortable culture of sin around them. What are the consequences?
2 Thessalonians 1:8- 9 looks to the day the Lord will return and “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord…”
The Bible is clear. Hell awaits those who do not know God and obey His will. This requires more than a momentary confession. It requires a lifetime denial of sin and commitment to be the Lord’s disciple (Luke 24:46- 47; Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus can save us from the fire.
What is keeping you from fleeing hell’s fire and heading for safety in Jesus? As Jesus once asked, “...what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:37).
Think about it.
November 2007