FIRE  !       F. I. R. E.   ! !

It's Australia in the world news again !

B U S H F I R ES   .....  yet again !

Absolutely appalling and incredible devastation,  infernos resembling a holocaust, with a numbing, heart-rendering loss of life and loved ones, children and family members !
The accounts, and pictures all so graphic and bewildering. in their intensity.

Not to forget to mention 1,000,000 animals, livestock, property, and emotional loss ....

Our hearts and feelings and prayers go out to the survivors and the bereaved at this most terrible time.

And then the news that some of the fires were deliberately lit ..... how could that be so ?          What sort of person or people could do such a thing ????
The mind boggles at those responsible for these horrendous acts of mass murder.
Were they twisted firemen as in previous years, or even disaffected political or cultural 'terrorists' ?      Time hopefully will tell, and any firebugs caught.

But there are what I consider as 2 other aspects to this whole subject ...

First  - what I could call  the CREATIVE side

Having only visited Australia a few times, I will try to recall what I was told ....

Eucalyptus trees, and their seeds -  the oil produced just explodes in the fire, increasing its intensity and ferocity.
But the seeds released then fall to the ground to germinate afresh – the fire actually assists the trees vitally in reproduction and regeneration.
I  am told, that the bush and the eucalyptus trees are actually purged by the fires, to recover through all but the worst fires.
That the bush actually needs a fire through it approx every 10 – 15 years
So trees and fires actually integrate and work together  -  creation, nature and re-creation all blending in an ordained relationship, however harsh it may appear to us.

So, it is mankind who is 'the intruder'  as it were.
As much as entering the ocean depths and the marine world !
Or venturing into the Arctic / Antarctic regions

We / mankind should appreciate the ordination of nature and creation, and again, the lesson is to work with it, not against it, or pay some horrendous consequences.

Mankind,  the subduing conqueror of the planet, doesn't always get away with the exploitation of this domain.

Then the Second aspect  -  what could be called the SPIRITUAL side

The day following the fires breakout, our NZ Herald newspaper headlines  screamed HELL ON EARTH ...

One of the survivors when asked to summarise his experience said just one word  ..... ARMAGEDDON ....   (now just where had he heard and knew about that subject ?)

Also on the day that the fires began, my ears pricked up at the scripture reading for the day  on Southern Star Radio  in New Zealand.   Someone reads consecutively through the entire New Testament on this station – a portion each day, and the reading for that day was 2 Peter 3 : 7, 10 – 13...  but the heavens and the earth, which are now .... are kept in store, reserved unto fire, against the day of judgement and the destruction of ungodly men ..... but the day of the Lord shall come as thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy behaviour and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness

Peter a fisherman, living 2,000 years ago, here describes  (only by divine inspiration I believe) the events of what is referred to as the LAST DAYS  of this present age
and nuclear devastation
Fire is mentioned 3 times in these verses, but this is 'fervent heat' or probably nuclear fire that  'dissolves' materials and even 'elements', referring probably to the splitting / unloosening of the atom

So, how does Australia's bush fires relate to scriptural  end-time events

Well, my personal opinion is simply this ...
God is also a God of holiness and judgement, as well as grace and mercy. 
Just as a coin has two sides – what we call 'heads and tails'
So, humanity will be judged, which we tend to forget in the continuation of the days of our lives !
These bush fires and their disastrous consequences merely serve as a reminder of coming judgement, and even of the Hell fire and brimstone that Jesus spoke of !
And the prophesied end of this present age, at a time and place called Armageddon !

Just as many other of the principal spiritual topics are all illustrated in nature !
For example  .........
Resurrection   and  metamorphosis  -   caterpillar to butterfly
Water,   H2O  3 atoms,  in 3 forms ... ice, liquid, steam  ...   as the Godhead Trinity
The compass that always points to North,   where God's heaven is situated
Etc etc

Those familiar with the Bible will know that Jesus – the loving merciful Son of God, spoke the most about the subject of Hell, judgement and eternal loss, and that most authoritatively.

The subject of judgement, Hell fire and eternal loss is certainly not a popular subject in any day and age and especially in this materialistic one, and is rendered more so by some unbalanced preachers in past times and eras who used such topics  to try and scare people into heaven !

But still  .... Hell is for real ...... absolutely actual and factual, according to Jesus himself and so many scriptures –  Mark 9 : 42 – 48  for example

But for some, its easier to  'deny the complaint than to take the medicine'

To live life  on ones own,  denying a higher being,  or a personal God, or there being a purpose to life and creation.
Unappreciative of Gods lessons intertwined  with nature, created specifically to get our attention and remind us of things eternal.

BUSH FIRES  ....
“HELL ON EARTH ......”
“ARMAGEDDON ......”

“Better get ready”   I'd say and advise  .......  well before the event  !

Like the report of one person who defied the local prohibition to cut trees back, went ahead, cleared about 20 - 30 metres all around his house, and got fined $A30,000.00  for doing so.   Then when the fires had gone through, and most all of his neighbours houses had been totally lost, found that his house and family alone had been spared and saved !

And the Policeman / Fire Officer who just before the fires began, took it upon himself to knock on peoples doors, and warn the occupants to GET OUT / LEAVE, WHILE YOU CAN !   Those who took his advice and did so were saved, and those who didn't lost the lot, and in many cases even their own lives. 
His action reportedly saved countless lives.

And, as the survivors who had got out, met up with, and in some cases searched for and found other family members who had likewise somehow survived, and hugged, rejoiced and cried together.  
Then the lists were compiled, now numbering over 200, of the simply labelled 'LOST'

Lessons abound everywhere would you say ?