WILD FIRE

There are few things that are as frightening, and, at the same time, as thrilling as a forest or prairie fire.  It can spread very rapidly, doubling its size every minute - some say 30 seconds - depending on the intensity, wind speed, and fuel source.  Once it starts to spread, it can be very difficult to contain without adequate equipment and manpower.

 

Once, when I was quite young, I had a firsthand encounter with a large fire.  Two friends and I started a small campfire on a slope in a small forest in our town.  The slope was covered with dry leaves which we used to start the fire.  Before long, we had quite a blaze going, and were very proud of our work; but then the fire began to spread up the hill because we had neglected to clear a wide enough area around it.  We were very foolish to build a fire on a hill in the first place; but then not to clear the site was just asking for trouble.  In seconds the whole hillside was engulfed in fire, and the flames were starting to lick the sides of the nearest trees.  We stomped at the flames to try to stop the spread, but it was useless - the fire was out of control.  We ran as fast as we could to our houses (which were close to the woods) to confess to our parents what we had done and have them call the Fire Department.  Within minutes the firefighters were at the site and managed to extinguish the blaze.  What remained, though, was a charred and blackened section of woods that reminded us for a long time of our folly.  Needless to say, we were all grounded for quite some time!

 

As destructive and frightening as fire can be, it is also beneficial - and even essential - for the growth of certain plants.  Some plants and trees actually need fires to survive.  Fire helps some varieties of trees to release their seeds, it covers the ground with nutrient-rich ash, and it eliminates competition from other undesirable types of plants.  The Jack Pine, found in the northeastern and north central U.S. and Canada, is an example of a tree that relies on fire for propagation.  Once its seeds are mature, they will remain in the cone until the heat of a forest fire causes the cones to open and release their seeds.

 

According to the Ohio Prairie Association, "Prairie plants simply can’t be destroyed by fires of any kind.  It’s the other way around.  Prairie fires actually cause prairie plants to grow and thrive, not languish and die.  Virtually all prairie plants are adapted to, even require fire.  So no, prairie fires don’t destroy prairie plants.  Fires actually encourage the reproduction and growth of prairie plants.  Prairie fires are not destructive.  They are restorative, a crucial and essential part of the prairie’s unique ecology."

 

All of this reminds me of John the Baptist's words, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Luke 3:16).  As Christians, we soon become aware that the Holy Spirit is like "a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap," purging the uncleanness from our lives (Malachi 3:2).  God often allows adversity and fiery trials in our lives to purify and perfect us in Christ.  These fires can be very frightening when we experience them, because they seem to be so quickly out of our control.  It often seems to us that they are only destructive in nature, because we can't see God's ultimate plan at first.  Like the prairie fire, though, we can be sure that the trial is meant for our ultimate good, and not our destruction.  The fiery trials can help release the seeds of new spiritual life in us; they can burn away the thorns and vines that may be choking out the good things in our lives; and out of the ashes we may find the very thing that will fertilize new hope and faith.  

 

Most species of prairie plants grow from root crowns that lie just below the surface of the soil, and not from stems above the ground.  Because of this, the plant's life is always protected from fires by the cool earth.  Similarly, our spiritual life has its source in the heart or spirit (our innermost man), not on the surface (our flesh or external man).  The Ohio Prairie Association says, "After a fire, the prairie grasses shoot up new growth from the root crown slightly below the surface.  A prairie fire is very hot, but it can’t last long in any one place because fuel is quickly burned away.  Therefore, the soil around a prairie plant’s roots never gets very hot.  Prairie plant roots are always cool and protected, ready to restart new growth after a fire."

 

Don't be afraid of the "wild fires" of life.  Be very sure that God will work all things together for good to them who are the called according to His purpose.  He is going to give you “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” - all so that you might be called “trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord” (See Isaiah 61:1-3).  "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:10).

 

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." (1 Peter 4:12, 13, 17-19).