Are You Ready?
I was thinking today about how a fireman rushes into a fire to save the life of a trapped victim.
This particular picture gripped my heart because of the concern I see on this man's face as he grasps this small boy in his protecting arms.
He has prepared himself fully for the risking of his own life to save this child in dire need.
He has been equipped with the right protection so he himself can make it through without getting trapped or injured in any way. Sometimes they do get injured and sometimes they may even die in
the attempt to save another. This boy was saved by a very brave man who was ready.
Just as firemen are dressed in their firemen s gear, we as Christians need to put on the full armor of God in order to be ready to deliver someone from the fire. The bible talks about eternal fire, a fire that cannot be quenched. It is a place called hell.
The motive of a fireman is one of love and care. He knows that even the smallest burn can cause allot of pain that lasts a very long time. He knows the desperate situation he is running into.
He knows without him it would be highly unlikely that the person inside would live.
God has given Christians a job to warn every man and teach every man. We are to have compassion on the multitude that will not only face a fire but live in eternal suffering and agony in a fire that will not be quenched.
The fireman brings water to quench the fire of a burning building. Without the water it would be most likely a hopeless condition.
We as Christians have the water of the Word of God and without it there would be hope for no one.
As we go into a world to pull others from the grasp of sin. We must be careful not to be overtaken by the
same dangers that have trapped them. Just as this fireman had to be ready and knowledgeable.
We need to be ready by being strong and courageous in the Lord, by knowing the Word of God,
loving the Word of God And obeying the Word of God.
When we talk of fire, I am reminded of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were commanded by the King of Babylon to bow before an idol . They were thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to break one of the ten commandments. God has commanded us not to bow to any other God but him and to put no other Gods before him.
Daniel 3:12-29
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were ready to die for what was right. They did not have to fear an eternal fire because they were saved and knew if they were to die they would go to heaven. They had faith so real that Jesus was seen in the fire with them. The fire had killed the men heating the furnace by just the heat that escaped, but it didn't even leave the smell of smoke on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
We need to be so close to God that when we go out into the world that it does not effect us. It will not rub off on us.
They were ready!.... Are we ready?
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand.
Susan Nikitenko Nov. 17th, 2013
devotional
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