skip to main |
skip to sidebar
PROTECTION OR PREVENTION: [Colossians 2:8]
"The Williams Fire" caught us by surprise. Small fires in the San Gabriel Mountains are common for September in years of drought; but 24 hours after it started, what began as a 20-acre brush fire had quickly become a full-fledged problem … an out of control forest fire, consuming hundreds of acres at a gulp.
On the first day, I arrived home at dusk and went to an area to join neighbors watch the flames consume our beautiful mountains. We watched together for about an hour, waxing eloquently on our knowledge of fires, and trading lies about "the fire of '83." When the sun began to set over the Los Angeles skyline, we all commented on how the smoke had turned the sun burning red. I made a big deal about how beautiful it was.
As the sun began to slide behind the horizon, I began to have difficulty focusing on anything but the biggest flames. I turned to the lady on the right to mention this, only to see a dark grey face staring back at me. I then realized I was still wearing my sunglasses.
The old King James translators had a way with words; in 1 Corinthians 13:12 they have Paul informing the folks in Corinth that "now we see through a glass darkly." Their choice of words came alive for me when I realized I was still wearing my shades after dark.
There is another truth hidden in this experience: tradition, when used correctly, will prevent churches and denominations from moving critical boundaries, destroying key foundations, and distracting members from mission; tradition, when used incorrectly, obliterates boundaries, weakens structures, and obscures vision. Slowly, the Son-light slips below the collective horizon, what is supposed to be seen “dimly” is now seen not at all. So too with my cool shades.
A GUIDE SURE AND TRUE: [Hebrews 6:20]
Imran Vittachi, in a Post-Dispatch report, tells of Michael Hingson who is a World Trade Center (North Tower, 78th floor) survivor. Mr. Hingson is convinced the bond between him and his four-legged savior is what saved him.
Hingson, blind since birth, has depended upon his guide dog Roselle for several years now; Roselle is a 4-year-old yellow Labrador retriever. Hingson is quoted as having said, "A guide dog and its user have a close, very deep-trusting relationship - we have to, because when I leave and go somewhere … I'm trusting [her] with my life."
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2002, Hingson was preparing to lead a training seminar for a client. At the time Hingson was a regional sales manager for Quantum ATL, a data protection company. After a colleague alerted the room that flames were coming out of the building between the 94th and 98th floors, Hingson phoned his wife, Karen. He told her that an explosion had occurred and that the building was being evacuated.
Roselle then led him calmly to the stairwell. "I didn't have time to worry about what might happen," he said, describing the mood in the stairwell as tense but without pandemonium. Hingson didn't hear the explosion at 9:03 a.m., when the second plane struck the South Tower.
Amid the double-file exodus of evacuating workers in the stairwell, Roselle faithfully tugged him to each landing, then waited for Hingson's command to move on. On the way, he heard words of encouragement from firefighters climbing the stairs. He still doesn’t know whether any of them survived. At about 9:45 a.m., Hingson and his savior reached street level – almost an hour after starting down the stairs.
We also have a Guide, One who has gone before us, behind the veil, to prepare a way of escape. He is coming again to retrieve us before this temporal world bursts into flame and collapses. He will guide us on the Way to eternal safety. The bond we have with our Savior is secure in Him. He is the Son of God. We trust Him with our eternal lives.
We the trump sounds, we are to be ready to leave, immediately, there’ll be no time to phone anyone. But, for the time being, we’re to be about our daily affairs, in the same way as Michael Hingson.
Posts
