"Going in for the Rescue"

 A few weeks ago, I ran into a friend of mine at the gym. As we discussed recent developments in our lives, the conversation naturally turned to our two favorite subjects: Faith and firefighting. I have had the honor of working with Thomas for a number of years @ AFD, and can vouch for his abilities as a firefighter, and as a man who aspires to serve GOD. Thomas has pursued a Theology degree, and runs a "men's ministry" that caters to firemen specifically. As we talked it dawned on me, that perhaps he might have something to share here on this blog. And so I asked him to share with us a favorite scripture and story, and it turned out into an admirable result. I hope it blesses you.



Thomas Stokes is a Lieutenant with AFD, assigned to AT-1



Jude 1:22-23

"And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

“Going In For the Rescue”

So often we have long, tedious days at the fire station with the mundane, average alarm calls and the copious medical calls. We come to work and expect the unexpected. Experiencing the rush of climbing onto the fire truck with emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring. I’ve done it a thousand times and I still seem to feel the most insane adrenaline rush with my heart racing and my mind wandering, “Is this the BIG ONE?!”

For a firefighter, there are many, many, hours of training and drilling that prepare me to be a lifeline to some desperate, helpless victim. There are days and nights of wondering if this is the day that I will put my life on the line to rescue someone whom I’ve never seen or will probably never see again. Thinking, “I’m no hero; this is just part of my job.”

After a long day, my mind finally stops racing and I lay my head on my pillow to grab a few hours of sleep. I lie there hoping that my sleep isn’t interrupted this night. Then suddenly at 2am (All memorable calls seems to happen late at night or early in the morning) the lights pop on and the alarm bell blares. I jump out of bed and attempt to compose myself as if my heart isn’t about to jump out of my chest. Dispatch reports that there is a house fire and that there are persons trapped inside.  They need immediate help to escape the impending flames.

We arrive on the scene, run to the front door with all of our protective clothing on and properly secured,  pop our regulator  into our face mask so that we have breathable air, something that the surrounding atmosphere does not afford to the slowly, perishing victims. We crawl through the house in total darkness, driven only by our desire to save the perishing victims from the impending flames and to a safe place. As we crawl, we hear weak, faint cries of “Please save us, we can’t breathe!” We crawl toward the weak cry and find a mother with her child in her arms crying “Save my baby!” We hook mother and baby by the arms and pull them from the furious flames and to fresh air.

Then suddenly, it dawned on me that, “this is much more than just a job!” God has uniquely placed me in a position to emulate His love and compassion to hurt, downtrodden, and helpless people in society. Jesus Christ as our ultimate standard and example endured the cross, looking beyond His pain and reached into the fire to pull us to safety when we were in an unlivable state of sin, lost without hope.

We now have a charge to be “spiritual firefighters.” Not getting comfortable in our everyday mundane, selfish Christianity, but having compassion, “Going in for the rescue,” presenting Jesus Christ to everyone in our paths.

The tones have sounded, and we have an assignment. That assignment is this:

  
Winning souls for Christ, even when it costs us some sleepless nights!