"No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." 2 Timothy 2:4-6

I've caught a glimpse of him a few times now on my way to church. Early in the morning. Full gear. Wide open.

Strange though, there was no fire. There was no alarm. There was no one in danger. The station was calm and the fire trucks were in the bay. What was this guy doing?

He was acting in a way that was consistent with his belief. That's what he was doing.

What did he believe?

He believed that one day someones life would be on the line and he would have to be ready to act. He couldn't be weak. He couldn't afford to put it off another day. It wasn't if there was going to be a fire, but when. He truly believed in fire. He truly believed fire kills. He truly believed life was precious. He truly believed that if he stayed behind in the station that those lives would perish. More than all of those he believed that the mandate of the fire station and its captain was to be honored, because those mandates were and always will be good. He had a sincere devotion to the captain and his mandate. Therefore he moved.

I would like to share with you a fictitious story to illustrate a point.

An experienced firefighter was recently charged with grave neglect of duty. Prosecutors maintained that he had abandoned his responsibility when he failed to release rescue equipment. This resulted in the needless and tragic deaths of a family of five. Eyewitnesses were sickened when they discovered that the reason the firefighter remained locked in the emergency vehicle was simply because he was testing a new, hi-tech, CD player which, he maintained, he had bought as a gift for the fire chief.

The fire chief immediately distanced himself from the defendant and he dishonorably discharged him from the department. In a prepared statement, the chief said, "There are no words to describe such a betrayal of those he was sworn to protect."

The lead prosecuting attorney argued that for more than three minutes after arriving on the scene the firefighter wore earphones and listened to a CD while a family of five was screaming to be rescued from the sixth floor of a burning building. Horrified onlookers related that, as flames licked her clothing, a mother cried out in terror and fell to her death while still clutching an infant in her arms. Other witnesses said that the father was clutching two terrified children as he was engulfed by the massive flames."

This terrifying drama took place in full view of the firefighter, as he remained seated in the vehicle, listening to the CD. The defense pleaded "no contest" but added that the defendant went to great personal sacrifice to purchase the expensive gift for the chief and hoped that the judge would take that into consideration as he passed sentence."

What do you think is a fitting punishment for this serious crime? Two years in prison? Twenty years? A life sentence? Capital punishment? You be the judge.

I've often sat and thought about the parallels that being a firefighter have with being a Christian. Both are involved in a rescue mission. Both deal with lives. Both have to work hard to make sure they are ready.

I've also, sadly, seen the vast differences. And the difference that I've seen is that while many Christians claim to believe in "fire" they don't move. Firefighters do. While many Christians claim to believe that "fire kills" they don't move. Firefighters do. While many Christians claim to believe that "life is precious" (and even more so the soul) they don't move. Firefighters do. And most of all, while many Christians claim that honoring the Captain and His mandate are their top priority they don't move. Firefighters would.

Can a firefighter truly believe all of that and remain in the station? Can you truly say what you say about heaven, hell, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the glory of God and remain in your Lazyboy?

I am determined to make it my aim that NO firefighter will be my example, but that I will be his. God forbid that I have to be convicted by a man who seeks to save the lives of those around him who will one day stand before the throne of God and give an account and I sit on my hands and do nothing about the state of their souls. I am convinced of this one thing, dear brothers and sisters: many of you need freedom from the fear of men's opinions. You care too much what people think and care too little what God thinks. You need a revelation of the majesty of God even in the midst of all of your talk about "sovereignty." If understanding the sovereignty of God doesn't make you move then I don't care how much you articulate yourself, you don't understand it. If the gospel doesn't make your heart swell up with anxiousness to go tell some poor soul about freedom in Christ then you don't understand the gospel.

"God save us from living in comfort while sinners are sinking to hell. In travelling along the mountain roads in Switzerland you will continually see marks of the boring-rod; and in every minster's life there should be traces of stern labour. Brethren, do something; do something; do something: While committees waste their time over resolutions, do something. While Societies and Unions are making constitutions, let us win souls. Too often we discuss, and discuss, and discuss, and Satan laughs in his sleeve. It is time we had done planning and sought something to plan. I pray you, be men of action all of you. Get to work and quit yourselves like men. Old Suavarov's idea of war is mine: "Forward and strike! No theory! Attack! Form column! Charge bayonets! Plunge into the centre of the enemy." Our one aim is to save sinners, and this we are not to talk about, but to do in the power of God." C.H. Spurgeon, Lectures To My Students

God help us. God HELP us! GOD HELP US! Amen.