God’s Lesson In The Fire At Lake Highlands

Fire At Lake Highlands

Two days ago, I received a bit of God’s lesson in the fire at Lake Highlands. Firefighters said it started as a 2-alarm fire but rapidly swelled to a 4-alarm event. One hundred firefighters were needed to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading. However, there was no saving the condominium itself.

And although it was an inferno, it was not towering. It burned down too quickly to achieve such a height. It was soon over, except that sixty people were suddenly totally homeless.

You may be wondering why you are hearing of the Lake Highlands Fire when the California destruction is still trending. And you would be right, if you lived in California. You see, there is something about an incident in your neighborhood that is more poignant than in a far-away location. Deaths due to terrorism in New Zealand don’t impact you as much as deaths in Mound Bayou, for instance.

Possibly, you know of campaign rallies where a Christian conservative is bad-mouthing all forms of religious worship, other than his own. You all start out smiling and nodding. But as he continues with his catalog of religious ills, smiles gradually turn to scowls. You smile as long as he is maligning your neighbor’s religious practices, particularly if you do not like said neighbor. However, your smile turns to a frown when the speaker gets to your religious practices. Of course, your neighbor’s scowl now becomes a smirk as he observes your gathering scowl.

God’s Lesson In The Fire

It is what it is, although Christians should really not be that way. We tend to be quite tribal in most responses. That, in spite of the fact that the Savior we follow and try (pretend?) to emulate is far from tribal. Nevertheless, that is a story for another day. For now, permit me to talk about my neighborhood fire. In any case, it was in this neighborhood event that God’s Lesson In The Fire At Lake Highlands came to me. 

Naturally, all major news outlet in North Texas featured it as a breaking news. We all heard about it, as I discovered later during bible study as I shared this lesson. I wanted to make the point that God is able to continually teach us through ordinary, even mundane incidents. Of course, we have to be attentive to receive such training, any training. As I watched the blaze on the evening news, I could not help observing the paper-thin walls. Flashing through my mind was the thought that the thinness of those walls must have contributed to the general devastation. But just as I was starting to feel self-satisfied that my house walls were better, God spoke, and rather sharply.

God’s Teaching In Fire

Evidently, He did not want me going there; He chose rather to bring me what I call God’s Lesson In The Fire At Lake Highlands. You see, God does not condone comparison of any sort. How often have you been tempted to think that the reason you are alive and well is because you are so and thus? Perhaps you link your health to your ability to pray long. You have a good job because you studied hard in school. You forget that all ability comes from God. Perhaps you think you are alive because you exercise regularly. The doctor who counseled you to exercise died the other week.

What then? If exercising could keep one alive, your doctor should still be here. God had mercy on me and taught me a lesson in the fire. It is by the mercies of God that I am not consumed. Period. Not because my house is better-built, or has thicker walls.

God’s Lesson Is Critical

God’s Lesson In The Fire At Lake Highlands is a critical one. And, boy am I glad that He quickly stopped me from gloating! Without such sharp brakes, that attitude leads to a slippery slope. Very slippery indeed. I am white is why I am doing well. Or I am well-connected is why I had financial doors opened for me. And so on and so on.

He very kindly reminded me, I think, of the tower of Siloam, confident that I would understand. I did. I am no better than the ones who died then. Or those who became instantly homeless in the fire at Lake Highlands. My need for God’s Lesson In The Fire At Lake Highlands was that mercy is the reason I am still here. Mercy is the only reason I am sitting in my home, watching the devastation of the fire. It has nothing to do with the building or my fasting or my praying. Nothing.

What Is Your Lesson?

Now, I know that some self-made ones will disagree with the conclusion of the lesson in the fire. We would like to hear your take on how you came to have that cushy job you have. What about you gave you your wonderful spouse. How come it is that you are in better health than your doctor. Oh yes, you studied hard and work even harder. But don’t you know of hard workers who don’t make it in life?

In spite of this blog, you are still convinced that you had a big part to play in your success. Please feel free to share with us.

We might learn a lesson of eternal value from your contribution.

God bless you.