Fire

  See the flame, simple and pure in purpose, it exists only to burn.  

     Imagine a pine forest ablaze in the night, tongues of flame licking at the dark sky. With the warm air rising up bringing with it smoke and fiery embers, glowing sparks each consuming all life in its path, a wave of merciless blazing heat. What is this forest fire? It is evil, corruption of what is good and right, as intended in creation. This fire is not a forest of trees, brush, and grass. It is a single pine needle, blade of grass, or leaf and petal of flower, once beautiful giving its every essence, but unwillingly, as an accomplice. As a forest fire can be shown to be a collection of small fires, a piece of bark or pine cone burning, so are people, each one doing and being consumed. Like the blade of grass, a person is vulnerable when someone near is engulfed, losing their life to feed the flame's never ending desire to consume, and another soul is lost.

     While in this world we are vulnerable to the evil waiting its chance to consume us. God is all around us but we must choose our creator's protection from the flames. Through Christ we can receive a fire proof suit or spiritual union with God. It was for this plan of salvation that the son of God would be sacrificed reuniting those who admit their sinful nature and repent by confessing transgression to God and turning away from the lure of evil's flame. It is sad that we are easily burned, leading to self-destruction in this world and eternal separation from our creator. The burn proof suit offered by God's plan to reunite us in spiritual wholeness and love does not mean we will never sin again in this world but it does mean as adopted children of God we can be forgiven. What is this sin? It is choosing to live separated from our creator by our spiritual and behavioral choices. By choosing to follow the world rather than the creator we turn our back on God, God's gift of spiritual salvation through the sacrifice of Christ, an unearned opportunity to start over. It is true that we are all God's creation, but only through acceptance of the son of God's sacrifice in his crucifixion and his resurrection do we become God's adopted children. Those who do not will remain the world's firewood.

Being a Christian is choosing to be reunited with our Creator through Christ.

To know God we must pray through Jesus, our savior and redeemer.

A meaningful prayer: Dear Lord. I am a sinner, please forgive me, teach me and lead in your ways as my Lord and savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Our Lord's time is near and now is the time to get that Bible and read beginning with the New Testament. Sincerely seek the truth with openness and you will grow spiritually and gain comfort in these troubling times. God's hand is held out for us and all we need to do is grasp it; so praise God, for our Lord's blessing and forgiveness for transgressions is ours. Take God's hand and walk in peace, knowing always of your place which which was promised. Pray always, confessing sin to the Lord and to strengthen your relationship with God, study the Bible, associate with others who love God in fellowship, and trust in the Lord's promise of salvation through forgiveness.

W. T. Giles