Time To Start A Fire

Time To Start A Fire

Illus by sermon central: The Fire

H. A. Ironside told the story of pioneers who were making their way across one of the central states to a distant place that had been opened up for homesteading. They traveled in covered wagons drawn by oxen, and progress was necessarily slow.

One day they were horrified to note a long line of smoke in the west, stretching for miles across the prairie, and soon it was evident that the dried grass was burning fiercely and coming toward them rapidly.

They had crossed a river the day before but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames would be upon them. One man only seemed to have understanding as to what could be done.

He gave the command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon it.

As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a little girl cried out in terror, “Are you sure we shall not all be burned up?”

The leader replied, “My child, the flames cannot reach us here, for we are standing where the fire has been!”

There’s a sediment in the country in which we live to where we feel like we are headed down the road, to where our freedoms are in Jeopardy!

Those of us who know the true origin of this country, have read about the men and the women who braved the elements and gave us the rich heritage of freedom we have enjoyed our entire lives.

Things like freedom of speech and freedom of religion and the right to defend yourself! So many things, so many people died in the process of obtaining, to ensure freedom for every man woman boy and girl. For whosoever would ever set foot onto the soil of America!

I think we have all read about people who have inspired us, who overcame great obsticles and have done amazing things.

It’s a sad fact of life today, but there are a lot of discouraged people out there in this world.

But I’m telling you today, if you know and I mean truly know the Son of God, you have a reason to sing! It’s time we sang the praises of our Savior louder and clearer than we ever have! Why? Because the demons in hell and every mouthpiece the accuser has on earth is screaming his message at the top of their lungs!

We have been told dark days lie ahead. I guess the writer of that speech forgot the most important day in history when Jesus defeated and conquered the master of all dark days!

There is truly nothing to be discouraged about in this life that we live. Oh sure, things happen, problems come and go, there is nothing though in any of our lives that can’t be overcome with the Lord’s help.

He is an overcoming, death defying, problem solving, grace giving, all forgiving, Amazing Good God! We have been made in his image, and have been given every good thing to also be an Overcomer, just like our creator!

As Christians, we of all people should be happy about our lot in life. We should be ecstatic! We have been forgiven of all sins, we have ever done or will do, by the precious grace of Jesus, God sent to us so long ago.

Have we forgot the heritage we have been given? Have we become so preoccupied with technology and achievements, which God has also given to us! To even remember where ideas, inventions and every good thing come from in the first place?

We have what we have in this world because of a gracious God and the fact that God Loves humanity enough, to give and keep giving!

It makes you wonder Why in the world, aren’t more people able to get their hands around this, Life giving, Life changing message, Jesus brought us?

A message, that was so important for God to get to us, that He was willing to give up His one and only Son, so we could have it! And by doing so, His death on the cross, would forever pay the price for the forgiveness of sin and provide the path of relationship and God’s blessings to us!

Everything that we have, every benefit we enjoy, everything good that’s ever happened in our lives, we owe to the selfless act of Jesus sacrifice of His life on the cross, for all who would believe He did it for them!!

Not dependent upon us being worthy to receive such and important gift, because we are all unworthy and unqualified to receive such goodness!

We don’t fight for victory today, we fight from victory! I’ll say it again we don’t fight for victory today, we fight from victory! Far too many in this life have forgotten, that Jesus has already been victorious for us, in every situation we will ever encounter.