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Heart racing, adrenaline pumping, sweat beading on his brow, the man watching intently as they raced into the drive of a large two-story home engulfed with flames. He jumped off the truck and began to work. They had done this a hundred times. He knew the routine. A woman ran to him, crying and screaming.
“My daughter is still in there!”
His heart dropped.
That fire was out of control and would consume the whole house soon.
He gathered a few details about the home’s layout and where the girl last was and ran for the side door.
He had to find her. He had to save her.
A firefighter knows the risks involved with the job. They don’t come into this profession blindly. The risks are spelled out clearly for them in the beginning.
– you will see fire
– there is a great possibility you could be burned
– training, equipment, and protection are provided, but it does not guarantee there won’t be dangers
– if you choose to go into a fire, you could lose your life
This has danger written all over it. So, why would someone still choose to do it?
Because of the people that needed saving.
Acts 21:4; 8-15
“4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit, they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.”
“8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” 15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.
Through the disciples and these young ladies who prophesied, the Holy Spirit revealed to them that danger awaited Paul in Jerusalem. Suffering and imprisonment were sure to come when he entered the city.
But remember, Paul knew the risks associated with being a disciple of Christ. He knew the persecution and dangers of sharing the gospel and preaching the truth. For one thing, he had been on the other side at one time. He had been the one persecuting Christians. He knew what awaited him in Jerusalem. It could even mean death.
And he was still willing to go.
Why?
Because of the people that needed saving.
He cared more about their soul and eternal life than he did about his own life. He was willing to risk it all to bring them salvation, which was only possible through Jesus.
He wasn’t ignoring the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wasn’t telling him not to go. The Holy Spirit was merely informing the disciples what would be ahead of them.
Like Paul, we all have to decide if we are willing to walk the same path Jesus did. Jesus told us what will happen if we choose to follow Him.
John 15:18-21
“18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.”
Luke 9:23-25
“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
We are either following Jesus, or we’re not. There is no middle ground. There’s no “easy” way about it. Jesus is The Way, and if we choose Him, we know the risks involved and what life looks like with Him.
Are we willing, even with all the risks involved? Think about every person who’s waiting to be saved.
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