Fighting Fire

Ephesians 6:13-17  CSB

“For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.”

A firefighter’s footwear is incredibly important. We are tasked with going into dangerous environments and proper foot protection means we can go confidently where we need to go.

Advantages of the Gear

Obviously, when duty calls, the ability to advance and progress through adverse conditions is mission critical. The boots are what make it possible. They’re fire resistant, allowing us to walk across hot or burning materials. They’re oil and chemical resistant.  Many fire scenes are Hazmat operation and our boots can’t melt if they were to contact acidic or corrosive substances.  They’re rated to withstand corrosion for an hour.

The boots have a full-length steel shank in the sole and are puncture proof. We don’t have to worry about stepping on a nail. They also are steel-toed, so we also aren’t afraid of something falling on our toes. They can withstand 2500 – 6000 lbs. They’re tall enough to keep water and contaminants out and they don’t conduct electricity. Finally, the sole of the boots are designed for maximum traction on uneven surfaces, ladders, and roofs.

Illustrative of the Gospel:

You and I are called to go with confidence into the mess of people’s lives. The “Gospel of Peace” is a message of reconciliation. It offers salvation, forgiveness, and a restored relationship to the Creator. Because we have been made right with God, we need to GO and rescue the perishing with it.

Listen to what the Chief commands in Matthew 28:19 CSB:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

When we get toned out…. We GO and we GO quickly. We move with intense purpose. I’m afraid that you and I are very hesitant to respond when we meet people who need Jesus. We step very gingerly, not wanting to offend or make it awkward. Despite being an obvious command, we treat the Gospel as a suggestion. We tip-toe when we should sprint.

Why We Need to Go with the Gospel:

First, People need Rescued. You and I are on a mission to rescue lost people from their spiritual lostness. Because we’ve found reconciliation with the Creator, we need to share that. There are people who are on their way to an eternity apart from the Chief and we have been commanded to do something about it.  What if your first responders had the same attitude about responding to a 911 call that we have about sharing the Gospel?

We need to see people’s spiritual condition as IDLH – Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health. Remember, the Enemy’s goal is to victimize through deception. Everyone we meet needs to be rescued from their sin and discipled to move from victim to rescuer themselves.

Secondly, People’s Lives are Messy. Having the Boots of the Gospel of Peace also means that we are willing to walk through hard a messy times with others. Sin is destructive and we live with a generation of people who are crushed by the weight of sin’s wreckage. You and I bear hope that there’s healing and forgiveness in Jesus’s name. Better yet, we’ve been blessed and each of us has a capacity to respond in a tangible way to people who are being victimized by the Enemy.

Finally, We have a Duty to Respond. How selfish would it be for a firefighter to ignore the tones because he’s comfortable in his recliner? How selfish is it for us to shy away from awkward, personal conversations and even loving sacrifice to bear the burdens of the lost and show them the Good News of salvation in Jesus’s name.  You and I have a duty, given to us by the Great Chief, to go as rescuers, to move with purpose, and to deliver the truth of the Gospel.

“Come with me and I will show you the way out.”

Debrief:

1. Have you ever tried to share your faith before? How did it go?
2. What is the greatest barrier for you to sharing your faith? Is there anything that you can be doing now to become more confident?
3. Is there someone who comes to mind that needs you to step into their mess with the message of salvation in Jesus?

Report to the Chief:

Take that name to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him for both the opportunity and courage to share how Jesus saved you and the impact that has made on your life.

Feedback

Please use the comments below to give me some feedback. What could have made this post more powerful in your life? Anything not make sense or flow well? Any comments to make it more faithful to Scripture?