Through the Fire

In 1st Peter 1, the writer refers to trials we face and how God has a purpose in the trials that we face.
We can read:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...

Sometimes the trials of life can seem overwhelming.  We experience disappointment and loss, we encounter confusion and may even feel that God has forgotten us.  That's not the time to run away from God, but to press in to Him and walk by faith.  Even in those moments when the going gets tough, we can know that He is with us and His is working His intent through our lives, bringing us into a place of dependence on Him and enabling us to experience His incredible power.

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The apostle Peter address the subject of trials several times in the book of 1st Peter.  We read in
chapter 4 of that book:
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Wakefield, MA, is situated north of Boston, and in 1872, the First Baptist Church, with its steeple pointing to the sky, was constructed.  Just weeks ago, however, a lightning strike ignited a seven-alarm fire, damaging the church building "beyond repair," according to a story on the Boston Globe website.

The story says that "just hours" after the destructive fire, "residents gathered in disbelief as workers dismantled the charred remains under drizzling skies. One item that survived: a painting of Jesus, virtually unmarked by fire, smoke, or water."  The congregation members "struggled to accept" what had occurred.  Here is one of their responses:

“You just try and focus on the fact that the building is just a building,” said Amy Burd, who became emotional as she looked up to the steeple, where workers cut away charred beams using power saws. “The building doesn’t hold all the love that happens in there.”

Church officials issued a statement, in which they stated:

“We know that we serve a God who specializes in restoring brokenness and who can bring beauty even from ashes,” they wrote. “So we move into the future with trust, hope, and gratitude.”

The article continued:

The Italianate structure was constructed around 1872 and rebuilt in 1912 after a fire, according to the National Register of Historic Places. Bob Levesque said that this time, rebuilding would be prohibitively expensive.

“This is never going to be put back,” he said. “It would cost you $20 million to build a building like that today — easily.”

Levesque is a steeplejack who has done restoration projects at the church.

The impact has been profound, and the Globe relates:

On Wednesday, observers gathered near the church to watch, sometimes tearfully, as a demolition crew took apart the destroyed building.

Amid the loss, parishioners took a measure of comfort that the painting of Jesus, seen standing in a white robe with crucified hands extended, had survived. The artwork had hung just inside the church’s front doors and was somehow left intact.

There are a number of applications from this story, and as we are witnessing the incredible devastation from the wildfires in California, we are hearing stories not only of people who have lost their lives, but of those who have survived, as well.  We certainly know that in the fiery trials of our lives, that Jesus is walking with us.  He provides strength when needed, courage when required, and is, as Scripture says, our "ever-present help" in times of trouble.

We can also recognize, as this Boston congregation has experienced, that after the smoke clears, Jesus remains.  We may find that material possessions have been destroyed or removed, or we may have suffered loss in other ways, such as mental or emotional devastation.  But, we can know that we can rely on Him to rebuild and restore us when we have suffered.  And, as we remember what the leaders of that church related, we can know that God is more than capable of bringing beauty from ashes.

Finally, we admit that the Church is not a building.  But, the building was obviously a prized possession of the church, and people had to deal with a great sense of sadness and even emptiness.  Ultimately, though, you will likely see that the fellowship and common strength of the people will get them through, combined, of course, with the power of God.  And, that's an example for all of us - God has placed us in a body of Christ that is intended to bring us dynamic human relationships with people who will love us and walk with us in good and bad times.