The Firehouse that Ran from Fires

      Once upon a time a very brave fireman saw that there were certain, very flammable, neighborhoods in particular parts of town.  Though his area of town was safe and less flammable, he decided to open a fire station right in the middle of the most flammable – and dangerous – part of town.  He had a passion to help those in some of the most desperate parts of his city.

      He established this fire station, and as he figured, fires broke out all around his fire house.  It was a risky adventure, but he and his fireman saved many lives and rescued many people.  All the while, the less flammable part of town continued on in relative safety.  The fire house began to be known for its expertise in rescuing those in the most danger.  And, even though his fire house was in such an undesirable part of town, it gained notoriety and acclaim for its life saving ways.

Two generations of fireman passed and the firehouse in the riskiest part of town continued saving countless lives from burning up and growing in prominence.  Many sent financial, material and social support to the fire house.  The fire house gained in cultural acceptance and became well accepted in the city – even though it was still located in the less desirable and flammable district of town.

The fire house became so well accepted that many, in the less flammable and more desirable part of town, wanted to be a part.  Some of those from the better parts would come for brief stays to help then return quickly home to the less flammable and nicer areas.  An increasing number of these less-flammable residents wanted to be part of the fire house, but they could not bring themselves to actually be daily in the flammable parts of the city.  After all, this firehouse was in a dangerous and less desirable part of town, since it was the flammable district.

The less flammable people began to talk to the firehouse leaders about moving into the safer areas of town where they could gain more and more people.  After three generations of firefighters serving in the middle of the most needy areas, the leaders determined that it was wise to move the firehouse into the non-flammable district.  After all, in that area they could recruit more and more people to serve in the firehouse.

On the appointed day the firehouse moved out of the flammable district and into the non-flammable neighborhood.  Immediately, crowds of people began to attend events the firehouse help.  Firehouse concerts. Firehouse fellowships.  Firehouse activities.  Firehouse gatherings.  These were all events that brought more and more non-flammable residents into the involvement of the firehouse.

There were conferences on fire fighting.  There were discussions about fire fighting.  There were pep rallies about fire fighting, and the attendance at the firehouse grew rapidly.  Things could not have been better…sort of.

Back on the flammable side of town, fires raged that once were easily handled by the firehouse.  In fact, fires began creeping up in the flammable district that once never even existed.  It seems that the new firehouse, being so far away from all the danger, now had a hard time getting mobilized to save those in the most dangerous areas.  In fact, when the firehouse heard about the terrible happenings in the flammable area, many silently thought “We are glad we are in a safer area for our families now.”  And, as generations of firehouse members grew, the original purpose of saving lives became less and less the goal.  As time moved on, the flammable district grew worse…even to the degree of moving into the less flammable district.

The firehouse members discussed the need to move into another area – on the outside of the non-flammable district – because things were changing and becoming more dangerous.  Once again – as in a generation past – the decision was made to move the firehouse.  This time however, some of the firehouse members stayed behind…bound and determined to lock themselves behind fireproof walls and protect themselves from the flammable neighborhood that was moving their way.

The new firehouse in the new area saw more firehouse members added.  The old group saw their numbers dwindle and the firehouse, in what was the less-flammable district (but now growing more dangerous), became less and less helpful.  And…all the while, the flammable district grew and cost more and more lives.  The firehouse that, generations earlier, had begun with such life saving promise, now was too busy to run to the fire and save those in most danger.

“And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Mark 2:17

      God, cause us to be a people who run to the hurting, rush water to the burning, race to the condemned and fight in the most needy places.  GOD HELP US TO BE SAVED FROM THE NEED TO ALWAYS BE SAFE.

“Some want a retreat near a church or chapel bell, but give me a rescue station outside the gates of hell.” – Unknown Author 

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