December 27th, 2007 
Dana Fisher The elements will be destroyed by fire. – 2 Peter 3:10
The smell of smoke and ash filled the air, choking out the breath in my lungs. But that wasn’t why my eyes began to water. Sitting on the cold, wet pavement just up the road was a young woman, wailing and sobbing.
My brother came rushing in the door moments before. “Get out here, QUICK!” Confused and seeing the obvious excited panic in his eyes and went to the door in my socks. Not 500ft from my house flames licked the cold night sky. They stretched far out the top of the roof in the front, smoke billowing out from underneath the shingles in the back.
It’s a sickening feeling knowing your helpless. I had heard the fire horn about 30 minutes before but thought nothing of it until now. As I walked down towards my neighbors house I was struck by two things, the crying and the massive amount of help that had been called in. Blocking off the main road through town were 7 fire engines from 4 towns.
After much discussion with a few neighbors we thought maybe they could use some help. It was December 22, 2 days before Christmas, and they had lost everything. I walked over to ask if they could use some blankets or jackets. A young man refused, you could see the hurt in his eyes. I went back to my house and sat on the steps outside watching the firefighters put out the flames feeling very helpless. Fighting the idea in my mind I trudged upstairs and started pilfering through my closet. I found a few fleece sweatshirts and a jacket and made my way back downstairs. The walk back to the end of the road was a long one. I fought the voices in my head, “Don’t do it, you look like an idiot. He already said no. Everyone will see.” I remembered a verse: Sell your possessions and give to the poor.(Matthew 19:21). I walked on, handing him the jackets. He said thanks as he passed them out to his family and I went home.
It was the only thing I could do. There wasn’t any words to say that would make everything better. I prayed for them as I drove over to my parents house later that night.
There are no firefighters in hell. The fire never goes out, the crying never stops. It’s devastating losing your home and all of your possessions I’m sure. How much more to lose your life for eternity? We are called to be fishers of men, not reclusive Christians. I struggle every day with sharing my faith and helping others. It was in that moment though that I realized I would have given them anything I had if they asked. Then it struck me, Jesus gave them His life.
If my house had burnt down I may have cried a little but it wouldn’t have been so bad because I have Jesus. Everything is under control with Him and I have hope always regardless of the situation. It’s in stark contrast to what an unbeliever goes through when bad things happen. Always be prepared to give an answer for the hope you have(1 Peter 3:15).
This fire made me appreciate the material things I have, the God I serve, and the blessings and protections He’s given me through the years. It also made me think about what others don’t have and the hope that is lost without Jesus Christ.
There are no firefighters in hell, but we should all be preventative firefighters on earth. Only you, knowing the truth, can prevent fires. God ultimately puts the fire out, by cleansing us of our sins and saving us from hell. As Christians we can do our part here on earth. Give those who don’t know the truth a smoke alarm. Share with them, give them a glass of water, give them your bible…pray for them. In these small things you may unknowingly prevent a massive wildfire.
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