There Is A Refuge Where The Fire Has Been

Good News – September 2017 – Grace & Truth Magazine

There Is A Refuge Where The Fire Has Been

A fire in the extensive plains of the North American West is a horrendous thing. Like many other places in the world, those who live in that region experience months of drought, and they are on alert and in suspense until the seasonal rains come. Meanwhile, every appearance of cloud or smoke is the object of intense concern. If the dry grasses ignite, the wind driven flames advance violently and devour vast areas along with everything in their path. Terror takes hold of both man and beast.

Many trapped, powerless and defenseless have perished as their properties were reduced to ashes. But others have used a simple but ingenious escape plan. They burn the areas all around them, a controlled burn that leaves an “island” of burned grass where they can calmly and safely take refuge while the flames pass. Where there is no fuel the fire does not come. Of course this plan must be put into effect urgently and with all haste before the fire arrives, because lives are at stake.

A More Terrible Fire
There is an even more terrible fire – infinitely more terrible – that threatens this world: the judgment of God. The Bible warns, “The heavens and the earth ... are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition [destruction] of ungodly men” (2 Pet. 3:7), and “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29).

But He is also compassionate and has provided an escape. He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, as the only refuge. God ignited in His Son all the horror of the fire of His wrath. We read: “Christ ... suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (v.36).

Christ Is The Only Remedy!
For those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ there only awaits a “fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation [righteous anger] which will devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:27).

But today God still waits and pleads with you, because He “is longsuffering [patient] toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Heb. 2:3).

Don’t you want to surrender today before such a compassionate and pardoning God? If you confess your need of a Savior and accept God’s offer of salvation, He will receive you as His own son! Then He will not condemn you as an adversary in the burning of the coming judgment. We can tell you more.

A variation of this tract is available as Spanish tract #130, available from Grace & Truth.