[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during August 2023]
During the past week I heard a television interviewee referring to “fires of Biblical proportions”. This seemed unusual – as a general rule when people talk of cataclysmic events of ‘Biblical proportions’ they are thinking about floods, in some vague recollection of the story of Noah. The epithet is not commonly used for fires but those people who are experiencing the current wildfires first-hand can, quite understandably, feel that the end of the world is near.
The impacts of earthquakes, floods and fires are not limited to the moments of their passing. These events are not only life-threatening but, for those who survive, the outcome can be life-changing – in my case, a flood in 1980 led to me moving to a different country. For many people, the aftermath can be more severe; the lost of family members, treasured possessions, livestock, homes; everything that perhaps several generations have worked for.
We would do well to pay attention to the words of Jesus:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, … but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, … . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6 v19-21 [NIVUK]
Where is your treasure? Will it survive fire, flood or earthquake? Can you repeat the words of Job after he had lost family and fortune:
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Job 1 v21 [NIVUK]
With the exception of the first three chapters, the book of Revelation is not an easy book to understand; it can make for confusing and uncomfortable reading. In previous years it provided the basis for many hell-fire sermons but preaching from it seems to have become unpopular in our times. Parts of the book are describing events that are, many believe, still at a safe distance in the future but in doing so it has to use the vocabulary of many years ago. Does this combination of confusion and complacency justify our ignoring it?
John, the recorder of the book of Revelation, included a vision of the future:
A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone Revelation 9 v18 [NKJV]
Many people have attempted to give a modern interpretation to the ancient terminology, with varying degrees of success. Perhaps we can understand smoke as including the sandstorms that have spread beyond their usual location in desert areas whilst brimstone reminds us of the impact of volcanic eruptions.
This particular chapter comes to a conclusion with an observation that is depressing yet unsurprising:
The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands Revelation 9 v20 [NIVUK]
We are called to be messengers but if people will not heed the messages from natural events how can we get our message heard? Perhaps there is another way:
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire
thou still small voice of calm.[1]
In a world that is mesmerised by the pyrotechnic display around us there is still a place for a quiet whisper.[2]
Resources:
[1] John Greenleaf Whittier (1872)
[2] 1 Kings 19 v11-12
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Last week’s reflection: Missing Ewe
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
Thank you again, Steve. Amidst it all, if we listen, we might just hear that reassuring still small word of calm.
Thank you Steve for another thoughtful and Biblical reflection.