’Tis the season. Well, anymore, the entire year is the season, but traditionally, summer is the fire season.
Living in California, we learn a lot about the power of fire. We also know that once the fire is contained, there is always the risk of spot fires—those embers that land outside of the fire line and start a new fire. Firemen have to be vigilant to make sure no spot fires ignite.
As I was reading through Acts, thoughts of spot fires once more came to mind, and I realized that ever since Christ’s resurrection, the gospel has been spread through spot fires—only this time, they occurred because of the opposition to the gospel—and nothing was able to put them out.
Whenever an apostle was put in jail—the flame of the Gospel was ignited. Whenever, Paul was run out of one town and landed in another—another ember sparked.
Unlike the success firemen have over flames, nothing has been able to stop the spread of Christianity and nothing will be able to stop it despite all human effort. Nothing.
Isaiah 45:23 says,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
Despite the efforts to rid the world of Christianity or even of God, the flames keep igniting. Burning of Bibles. Outlawing nativity scenes in public spaces. Forcing prayer out of schools.
In some countries, the church has been forced underground, but the Gospel is still burning bright.
The Bible talks about the attacks and their futility in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
You can change the terminology from BC to BCE (Before Christ to Before Common Era) but the demarcation line between the two time periods is still the birth of Christ.
Try as they might to squelch the fires of the Holy Spirit, it just isn’t going to happen. Opposition is futile.
And unlike spot fires on earth that can grow and destroy, the gospel spot fires dispel darkness, produce light, provide peace, offer hope, salvation, and eternal life.
So if you find yourself in a job or town or situation you hadn’t planned and perhaps didn’t even want, remember, you might be next person to start a gospel spot fire.
Our world needs a lot of spot fires.
(Though not really related to this blog, the thought of fire reminded me of a worship song of the mid ‘80s. I loved it then. I love it now. And I think it is very, very timely. Enjoy.)
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