Ralph had just purchased a...
Illustration
Ralph had just purchased a piece of land on which sat an abandoned farmyard. It was his
intention to use the yard as the base for his new country home. In the back of the yard sat
an old barn that was filled with rotting straw bales. The loft floor had collapsed and the
bales spilled from the gaping doorway. Ralph decided that the easiest way to remove the
barn was to burn it, after all the straw was dry and the wood was dry. One evening after
work, Ralph and several friends gathered around the old barn with the goal of burning it
down. Foolishly, no one had thought to take any safety precautions such as contacting the
fire department.
Ralph had no trouble starting the fire. In fact, within a few minutes, the fire was eating up the straw bales and working its way up the structure. Then, unexpectedly, the fire exploded, throwing flames high into the sky and knocking Ralph and his friends over. Sparks rained down on the dry grass and on several other buildings Ralph had hoped to salvage. It was all Ralph could do to get his truck safely out of the line of the fire.
Luckily, a neighbor had seen the fire start and had called the local fire department. By the time they arrived, all the buildings in the yard were afire, the grass in the ditches was burning, and an adjacent pasture was threatened. It took many hours for the fire to be brought under control.
When one witnesses the danger of fire, isn't it a bit unnerving to hear God described as a consuming fire?
Ralph had no trouble starting the fire. In fact, within a few minutes, the fire was eating up the straw bales and working its way up the structure. Then, unexpectedly, the fire exploded, throwing flames high into the sky and knocking Ralph and his friends over. Sparks rained down on the dry grass and on several other buildings Ralph had hoped to salvage. It was all Ralph could do to get his truck safely out of the line of the fire.
Luckily, a neighbor had seen the fire start and had called the local fire department. By the time they arrived, all the buildings in the yard were afire, the grass in the ditches was burning, and an adjacent pasture was threatened. It took many hours for the fire to be brought under control.
When one witnesses the danger of fire, isn't it a bit unnerving to hear God described as a consuming fire?
