Pastor Mike Nodland of the Christian Fellowship Church in Vining, IA.

Fire fascinated me as a kid. Weeds had gotten out of control on our farm; so, my folks did a controlled burn, especially along the fences. Coming home from school, I discovered that my parents had gone to do chores while the fence line smoldered. Grabbing a pan, I ran to a barrel with a spigot and filled it full. Running back to the fire, I threw the pan on the glowing embers. Instantly, a fire exploded! I had filled the pan with gas instead of water, and it burnt my hands.

Screaming with pain, I ran into the house and plunged my hands into a cool pan of water. But every time I tried to remove my hands from the water, it felt as though they were on fire. I could not escape the pain.

My mother came into the house at that point. Admitting what I’d done, she doctored my hands, removing my suffering.

It reminds me of the rich man who was burning in hell and asked for just one drop of water to relieve his intense sufferings. But it was too late for him, so he got nothing, according to the Bible! Trusting Jesus Christ as Savior avoids hell. What’s your fire safety plan?