It was 9:09 p.m. when the first set of tones dropped for a house fire. A single-story ranch home was fully engulfed. Within a couple of hours, it had turned into a three-alarm fire with firefighters from multiple departments throughout the county trying to bring the fire under control. Structural issues with the home didn’t allow for fighting the fire from the interior and there was no way to get on the roof because it kept collapsing on itself.
Ten-degree temperatures were not friendly allies in the fire. The firefighters that had been covered with water were frozen popsicles, their turnout gear stiff from the ice. Helmets and visors were frozen over. Radios were frozen. Visors were frozen.
The residents of the home were senior citizens. They escaped with their pajamas and ONE pair of shoes. As I gathered information for my report, I found out that they were Christians. The man was saved when he was 12. The wife was saved while in her late 40s to early 50s. We prayed together several times as billows of smoke rolled, and fire would break through the roof from one end to the other.
Over four hours into the incident, the fire was finally extinguished. We were able to get their car out of the garage using a melted but workable key fob. Through the aid of the Red Cross, we got them into a hotel. As they drove away, the thought struck me that two pairs of pajamas, one pair of shoes, and their car was all they had to show for 70 years’ worth of living. Yes, they were fully insured and will be reimbursed for their losses. But there’s no way to retrieve items that may have had value or sentiment.
The wife seemed more distressed than the husband. He kept making semi-funny comments like, “If I’d known this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have painted that room today.” Yes, he had painted a room a few hours earlier. The wife never seemed to despair, though. She was more analytical, trying to process all the next steps.
It was 2 a.m. when I got home, reeking of smoke. I tossed my clothes in the washing machine, crawled in a hot shower, and went to bed thinking I was going to get a great night of sleep. Think again! For over an hour, I tossed and turned, thinking and praying for this family. I awoke with a Scripture in mind.
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)
The unsaved who are involved in a house fire like this one truly lose everything. They cannot have a contentment that reaches the heart level. Christians like this couple DIDN’T lose everything. In fact, they retained the most valuable thing they could possibly possess: the Lord and their salvation. They were content with such things as they had because they had that which a fire could not destroy – their faith in Jesus.
While it’s true that it’s later in life for them, they will begin again. In fact, the man tried to make light of what was happening, and he told his wife, “We’re going to get a new home.” They will replace clothing, food, appliances, televisions, medications, furniture, and even collectable trinkets. But they will not have to replace their walk with the Lord. That is something that a fire cannot destroy.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 leaves us with a good reminder for today. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”
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