It’s a bad air day somewhere (in many places!) out West. Hazy, warm (over 100 degrees in some places), with a healthy (actually, unhealthy) dose of smoke drifting in from burning wildfires.
Even non-asthma sufferers cough and wrinkle their noses such a concoction.
A good wind would clear the air. A good wind, however, would be bad news for firefighters working on the dangerous, and in some cases, still-out-of-control fires.
City-dwellers often “miss out” on the impact of greater wilderness wildfires. But not when there’s smoke drifting over the populace. In many places out West, there’s smoke – and a lot of it – which means there’s fire.
There’s a wildfire burning across humanity. It’s torched every human heart, including yours and mine. The wildfire of sin devastates lives and eternal futures.
We become quite skilled at covering up sin and its effects. But like heavy cosmetics applied to a weathered, aging face, nothing we do can hide the smoke or extinguish the fire.
Jesus tells us that the fire within (our sinful nature) gives off plenty of smoke and effects. “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:19).
There’s only one way to deal with the smoke of sin, and that is to put out sin’s fire. To quench the guilt sin brings. Jesus did that and so much more through cross and grave and eternal life. Sin still spooks around, powerfully setting off destructive blazes. But sin’s fire is terminal, that is, its power will end at the End. Even now, its capacity for damage is compromised. God people can say “No” to sin, with God’s help.
In smoke-affected areas, it’s a good day to be indoors and to be thankful for working A/C. Every day is a blessed day under the watchful guidance of the Son, who set us free from sin and guilt.
God be with you,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
Even non-asthma sufferers cough and wrinkle their noses such a concoction.
A good wind would clear the air. A good wind, however, would be bad news for firefighters working on the dangerous, and in some cases, still-out-of-control fires.
City-dwellers often “miss out” on the impact of greater wilderness wildfires. But not when there’s smoke drifting over the populace. In many places out West, there’s smoke – and a lot of it – which means there’s fire.
There’s a wildfire burning across humanity. It’s torched every human heart, including yours and mine. The wildfire of sin devastates lives and eternal futures.
We become quite skilled at covering up sin and its effects. But like heavy cosmetics applied to a weathered, aging face, nothing we do can hide the smoke or extinguish the fire.
Jesus tells us that the fire within (our sinful nature) gives off plenty of smoke and effects. “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:19).
There’s only one way to deal with the smoke of sin, and that is to put out sin’s fire. To quench the guilt sin brings. Jesus did that and so much more through cross and grave and eternal life. Sin still spooks around, powerfully setting off destructive blazes. But sin’s fire is terminal, that is, its power will end at the End. Even now, its capacity for damage is compromised. God people can say “No” to sin, with God’s help.
In smoke-affected areas, it’s a good day to be indoors and to be thankful for working A/C. Every day is a blessed day under the watchful guidance of the Son, who set us free from sin and guilt.
God be with you,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
RSS Feed
