Psalm 119:11-12 NIV
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
I live in wildfire country. History is riddled with horrific tales of fires. According to Earth.org, “The Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin started on October 8, 1871 and burned around 1.2 million acres. At least 1,152 people were killed, making this the worst fire that claimed more lives than any of the other wildfires in US history.” The Bible also records wildfires. Joel 2:3 says, “Fire burns in front of them, and flames follow after them. Ahead of them the land lies as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. Behind them is nothing but desolation; not one thing escapes.” A few years ago, we were on Level 1 evacuation notice which means Be Ready with Level 2, Be Set, and Level 3, Go Now! So, I thought it would be a good idea to download, fill out, and prepare an evacuation plan. Well, I printed it out, but never read it. Even as our phones beep with the notifications of yet another fire erupting in the area, and we watch the news with countless stories of loss, my plan sits unread on my to-do someday pile. How can I be prepared if I don’t even bother reading the information that would prepare me?
Sometimes I think we are like that with the Bible. We feel like it’s enough to at least have one in the house, somewhere, on a shelf I think, gathering dust. Or maybe we read a verse or two online. Or we sit in church and feel like we’ve put in our time. But how can I be prepared if I don’t even bother reading the information that would prepare me? Life long learners know, you have to do your homework, and eternity isn’t something we want to cut corners on – is it? Brilliant mind and passionate preacher, Charles H. Spurgeon said, “The devil is not afraid of a dust-covered Bible.” Dust it off, open it! Read, learn, and hide those words in your heart! You don’t know when God will give you your life’s Level 3 evacuation notice!
