How Long Does Fire Burn?
Our Property Near Guthrie, Oklahoma
How long does fire burn?
On March 31, 2023, something major happened that changed the lives of many people in Oklahoma. Wind was gusting up to 70 miles per hour. Gusts dropped later in the afternoon to just 45-55 mph, but by then fires had already started. With the drought and wind, the flames spread fast and burning embers jumped from tree, to house, to house. We heard the news from a friend who texted us. We were working at a ministry in Texas and began watching the news being livecast. We learned that the fires were in our neighborhood, but did not know until a couple hours later that our house was “gone.”
You see, God is perfect and will not allow even one sin to enter His heaven. But with the shed blood of Jesus Christ, our sins can be forgiven. (See Hebrews 9:22.) We must trust in Christ alone and not depend on our own good works. Our good works without Jesus Christ are like filthy rags. Imagine wiping up the soot and ashes from these fires with a damp, white rag. That now dirty, black rag is similar to our efforts to do good apart from Christ. You might ask, “How could that be?”
The Bible says this is true.
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6
If you are hoping your “good works” will save you, you are sadly mistaken and will always have some doubts.
And rightly so. Instead of hoping in yourself, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31
Jesus Christ died for our sins. That means he paid the penalty for the sins that we committed. And he came back to life again.
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Reach out to Him, asking him for forgiveness, and receive Him like you would reach out and receive a Christmas present someone offers you. He is the original Christmas present from the Father.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Lessons For Each of us from the wildfires that destroyed our home and the homes of many of our neighbors
Lessons For Each of us from the wildfires that destroyed our home and the homes of many of our neighbors
Lessons For Each of us from the wildfires that destroyed our home and the homes of many of our neighbors
- Gratefulness
Learning to be grateful for what God has spared, and for the time that we had those people and those things which were not spared. We don’t deserve anything but hell, but our generous God has given us many gifts, including our loved ones, for a time. Let us be grateful to Him and value who and what He has given while we still have them. - Urgency
Some lives are lost in fires. And when we leave this life, many will go into the eternal fire of hell. Let’s share with them how to be forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. The fire that destroyed our home lasted less than a day, but the fires of hell last forever. We do not want anyone to go there. - Build Lasting Treasure
In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, we read that each believer is building his life on the foundation of Jesus Christ. But what are we building with? Do we build with wood, hay, and stubble that will not withstand the test of fire? Or do we build with gold, silver, and precious stones? We probably all do some of both, but the earthly fire is a reminder to use our time on earth for eternal purposes as much as possible.
- The Best Place to Store Treasures
In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus commands us to store up treasures in heaven. If we focus our money, time, talents, and other resources on temporal things, realize that they will one day burn. But we can use our lives to build treasures in heaven, and with God giving the increase, our efforts will see precious lives spending eternity in the presence of our loving Lord. - Pangs of Sorrow and Pangs of Joy May Indicate What Owns Us
When we recall a particular item that burned, we might have a pang of sorrow. While this is quite natural, God wants us to return thanks for the time we had it, not become depressed over the fact that it is now destroyed.
What gives you the most joy in life? If it is a temporal thing, please reconsider your relationship with the Lord, and secondly your relationship with those around you.