FIREPROOF

— Acts 28:3

Fire is an often referenced symbol often used in Scripture to represent the power and presence of God working in the lives of His masterpiece, apex creation.

There is a story illustrating the significance of fire in the Book of Acts that chronicles the journey of Paul who, while shipwrecked on an island,  encounters a group of strangers.

As Paul and the group sit by a campfire, the story recounts that Paul began to add more kindling to the flame in order to increase the intensity of the heat.  As the fire intensifies, a venomous snake jumped out of the fire and latched onto his arm.  Those witnessing the episode thought that surely Paul would succumb from the poisonous bite, but he did not.  Instead, he shook the snake off and kept on about his Kingdom assignment.

God will often use fiery moments in our lives to test our faith and reveal His power.  These moments and seasons are also crippled by God to reveal threats and dangers that had been within the airspace all along, but were simply hidden because the airspace had become safe and comfortable.  It is often only in and through God intensifying the “heat” in our airspace do we learn more about who we are, who He is, who we are in Him, and our capacity to withstand, survive snd triumph.  Remember that the God who orchestrated the fire and purposely turned-up the heat is the same God who promises to protect us in and through the fire.

When struggles and challenges come, don’t be so quick to ask God to turn down the heat, but rather, remember that you are fireproof and that your victory and survival have been promised and assured.  Allow these truths to encourage you to faithfully endure and let the power of God fuel your continued forward-movement no matter who or what the threats might be.  

_{^{Reverend Christopher Conti, MD is the Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Pittsburgh and a licensed emergency medicine physician, author and Christian life coach.}}