Fighting Fire

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Captain Paddy Brown and 11 of his men responded to the World Trade Center in New York City as they had been dispatched to an unknown terrorist attack. They are the firefighters of Ladder Company 3 of the New York Fire Department.

As Ladder 3 arrived, Capt. Brown and his crew got off the truck, packed out, and entered the North Tower. Over the course of the first hour, they worked their way up 35 flights of stairs evacuating victims floor by floor.

On the 35^th floor, dispatch radioed Capt. Brown for a status report. He replied that he had many burned victims and that the situation was desperate, but then he uttered his famous words, “We are still heading up!”

Ladder 3 worked their way up to the 44^th floor when the following radio communication was Capt. Brown’s last words:

Dispatch:    “Command Post to Ladder 3, get out of the building!”

Capt. Paddy Brown: “This is the officer of Ladder Co. 3.  I refuse the order! I am on the 44th floor and we have too many burned people with me.  I’m not leaving them!”

The North Tower collapsed shortly after his last transmission, killing Paddy and 11 of his men, and a total of 343 other firefighters….

But not before evacuating and saving the lives of 25,000 people.

On every fire or rescue, there are three types of people:

1. Victims – They are the people that either because of their actions, the actions of others, or the circumstances beyond their control, are lost, wounded, or dead,

2. Bystanders – These are the people that bring no real value to the situation. They have no real purpose for being there beyond not becoming a victim themselves.

3. Rescuers – These are the people that are willing, called, trained, and outfitted to bring hope and healing to the situation. They are on mission and focused on success. They move with purpose and execute the with passion.

Throughout Fighting Fire, I will challenge you to gear up…. Not be a victim or passive, but instead to realize that God has given us a holy calling to be rescuers… to move beyond our doubts, anxieties, and sin into a state of readiness to response with the Hope of the Gospel to those who need help.

Check out this passage in the book of Jude. Jude is a half-brother of Jesus and brother of James, and although not one of the original 12 apostles, he writes just this short letter as a rally cry to the early church. Listen to what he says:

Jude 20-23 CSB

“But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

So, I will ask again…. Who are you?

Are you a Victim? Are you living the afflicted life? Are you ok falling to sin over and over? Are you comfortable with your sin hurting others? Are you wounded by depression? Are you crippled by anxiety? Does fear have you cowering underneath the bed?

Are you a Bystander? Are you numb and unresponsive to the lostness of those around you? Are you trying to avoid weirdness and awkwardness that comes along with sharing your faith?

Are you a Rescuer? Or, are you ready to take up the challenge of Jude to find your strength to become a rescuer as someone fully equipped to respond to the brokenness around us? If so:

• “Build up your Faith” – Gear up daily with the Armor of God.
• “Pray in the Holy Spirit” – Get in communication with the Chief.
• “Remember the Chief’s love for you” – Grow in your walk with God and protect your relationship with Him.
• “Have Mercy on Others” – Desire to bring hope and healing to the hurting and lost, not matter what they’ve done to bring themselves into those circumstances.
• “Snatching Them from the Fire” – Recognize that others are in an immediate threat of an eternity apart from Jesus in a real place called Hell. As a believer in Jesus Christ, realize that you hold the truth that can rescue them from the fire!

So tell me…. Are you still ok being a victim or a bystander or are you ready to start Fighting Fire?

Debrief:

1. In what ways have you been passive in your response to God’s calling on your life to live as a rescuer?
2. Is there anything in your life that you need to address immediately so you can get back to the mission? Any sin to repent of? Any habits to change? Any attitudes or beliefs that need to be brought into alignment with the Word of God?

Report to the Chief:

Spend a few minutes in prayer asking God to give you the strength to address sin and passiveness when it comes to your calling as a rescuer. Repent of times when you had the victim and bystander mentality.

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?