The Fire

I originally heard this used as a sermon illustration in seminary.  It is a true story, but I have probably lost some of the details around it over the years.  The main message is still there in my head though!

A young son of one of our professor's was learning about fire safety at school.  The assignment was to come home and make your fire safety plan.  The kids needed to know where to go, how to get out, and what to do in their own homes if a fire happened.  The fireman at school had told the students if they had a second floor bedroom they would need one of those ladders to lower down the window in case they couldn't get out of their bedroom.  This little boy needed a fire safety ladder.  He slept on the second floor and knew would need one if there was a fire.  He just couldn't sleep that evening knowing he didn't have one.  He had that fear.  The fear of what would happen if there was a fire and he couldn't get down.  His parents tried to console him and tell him they would get him one tomorrow when the stores opened.  They tried reasoning with him and talking with him.  Finally, our professor looked at his son and said "G, I would walk through the fire to get you".

That is what it's like having kids.  I would walk through the fire for my children.  Every. Single. Time.  That is why the decisions I make as a parent are not an inconveniences for me.  The choices do not "put me out" no matter how small or simple they may seem.  They are easy compared to the big things.  I would walk through the fire or the rain or the tornado or the hurt or the sadness or the pain for my children every time.

God will also walk through the fire for us.  It happened when Christ was sent to the cross.  Christ came to walk through the fire for us.  We are saved and forgiven.  Every. Single. Day!