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A Few Thoughts On Fire

September 14, 2020 / 19 Comments

My state is on fire. So is the one below it and the one below that. I’ve got many acquaintances who have been displaced. Some know their homes are gone; some aren’t sure yet. And I have friends that have friends who have perished or been badly injured. It may turn out that I know a few myself and am simply unaware as yet. I hope and pray not, but many dozens are unaccounted for at this time.

It’s an outsized disaster and one in a string of many in recent months. What’s going on?

The short answer is that “an enemy has done this” (Matthew 13:28) – an enemy to God and, by extension, His creation. That would include you and me and this planet. Peter reminds us that “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

He’s doing a good job, the enemy, as we’re dropping right and left, it seems.

So where is God in all this? The happy and reassuring reality is that He’s right where He’s always been – on His throne, in control, whatever evidence there might seem to be to the contrary. David claimed, in Psalm 22:28, “For kingship belongs to the Lord,” and he was right. God is the Creator of the universe and as such is the One in charge. He’s never given up that control and, in fact, ensured that He will retain it forever by His redemptive act on the cross. He created us and . . . He paid for us.

That should encourage us. We Christians have hope. Things will not always be like this. We’re promised that pain and sorrow, anguish and tears, sin and dissolution, will one day be things of the past. There will be a grand healing and restoration take place which will involve the planet itself and humans who were made to inhabit it. (See Revelation 21:1-4 for one of many fantastic descriptions of this glorious event.)  Won’t that be the day?!

So take heart, my friends. Whatever your present circumstances – may they be fire, flood, a troubled relationship, health challenges, financial difficulties, grief, loneliness, fear – you need not despair. You should not despair.  We have a multitude of promises that assure us we are not alone in them, that God Himself is with us and will see us through.  Here’s just one: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

So.  Where these fires are concerned: they will eventually go out or be put out.  The choking and coughing and eye-burning misery will cease.  We’ll go home again or find new homes.  We’ll pick up and move one, even the most affected of us.  But that’s not good enough for us, and it shouldn’t be.

The “good enough,” and much better than “good enough,” will be heaven, where none of this torment will ever be faced again.  The enemy will have been permanently, irrevocably vanquished and will be entirely absent from the picture, as will everything that accompanies his involvement in this world’s affairs.

That‘s the day we look forward to.  In the meantime, pray for the suffering, uncertain, bereaved, frightened, anxious, healing ones. There are fires, right now, and they’re worse than awful.  But let us rest assured – and may we unhesitatingly share this assurance with others as opportunities present – that this will certainly pass.

And that there’s a better day coming,  Much better!

19 Comments

  • Sherri

    September 14, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    Reassuring words, Carolyn. These are such terrible times all over our country right now, but we always need hope and must look to the future. So sorry to see each night the devastation in your state. I’m hoping your beautiful niche is safe from the fires….

    • Carolyn Karlstrom

      September 14, 2020 at 8:06 pm

      Thanks so much, Sherri. Yes, these are troubled times for sure. We’re safe where we are, at least for the moment; the nearest fire to us is about 30 miles away. But we, like the entire northwest, are heavily covered by this awful smoke and ash. There’s not a breath of wind and here we sit. Very ugly stuff . . .

    • Helen Carlton

      September 19, 2020 at 11:08 am

      Just read your blog comment and really appreciate your words of HOPE. Glad you sent a reminder to check your written message. Here we are 5 days since you posted and rejoicing clearer air and much needed rainfall. All of us need to practice good strategies of resilience during times of questioning. Ultimately God has the true answer. Keep sharing of helpful words of wisdom.

    • Helen Carlton

      September 19, 2020 at 11:10 am

      Just read your blog comment and really appreciate your words of HOPE. Glad you sent a reminder to check your written message. Here we are 5 days since you posted and rejoicing clearer air and much needed rainfall. All of us need to practice good strategies of resilience during times of questioning. Ultimately God has the true answer. Keep sharing helpful words of wisdom.

      • ckarlstrom

        September 19, 2020 at 11:58 pm

        Thx so much, Helen. I appreciate your kind words. And, yes – there’s been some improvement in the situation, hasn’t there? PTL!!!

  • Linda Hebert

    September 15, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    Thank you for your words of encouragement abd hope. I am so looking forward to no more sorrow, pain, tears or death.

  • Trudie Craven

    September 16, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    What insightful words! You do so well at putting them together.. We sure realize that this world is not our home!! Christians will never be content here as we were born for eternity and long to be with our Father,,,,,,Satan and his minions are busy ,,,but there days are numbered! Thank you!

  • Carolyn Karlstrom

    September 16, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your kind words!! No, we were not made for this world such as it is . . .

  • Leslie Newman

    September 16, 2020 at 8:30 pm

    Such comforting words, and I truly needed them, after driving in to work, pressed in by smoke on all sides. I am so grateful for Gods people, who listen and proceed by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. May the prayers of His people lift those in need.

    Leslie

  • Carolyn Karlstrom

    September 16, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    Thank you, Leslie. I’m glad you were comforted. Hang in there, my friend – I trust this will pass in time.

  • Susie

    September 18, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    Thanks for the reminder a better day is coming. The world seems to be “on fire” with the turmoil and chaos these past months have brought. I suspect we will see more and more of this as we get closer to His Second Coming. We must hold on! Our redemption IS DRAWING NEIGH.