Fire

We are standing in front of an inferno.  Many are being consumed by the fire, some are screaming Help me!  Others are laughing and having a good time; they do not realize that the inferno is going to destroy them in just a short time.  They have heard the alarm but chose not to go towards the way of escape.  As we look at this inferno, how are we going to act?  Will we rush in and try to save those that are caught in the fire?  Will we yell at the top of our lungs and say listen to my voice and run towards it?  Will we stand there in awe and say if only I could have helped them?   Will we feel regret and disappointment because we were not able to save anyone?   Will we have nightmares of those that were consumed by the inferno?  When a firefighter comes upon a building he is determined when he hears a voice screaming that he is going in to save that one.  The firefighter does not stop and say, Wait, that building is being consumed by fire, if I go in there I might be consumed.  He does not consider his own life but those that are inside the inferno.  In the parable in God’s word in Matthew 25, each servant was given a talent when the owner was going away.  Some took the talents they were given and multiplied them but one chose to hide his talent.   The owner took the talent from this one and gave to the others who had increased their talents.  The Bible tells us this after the parable of the talents.  For I was hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty and you gave me drink:  I was a stranger and you took me in.  Naked, and you clothed me, was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.  Then shall the righteous say, Lord, when saw we you hungry and fed you?  When saw we thirsty and gave you drink?  When saw we a stranger and took you in?  or naked and clothed thee?  Or when did we see you sick or in prison and came to you?  And Jesus answered, “Verily, I say unto you.  Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these you have done it unto me.  Then shall he say, Depart, from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no meat, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you took me not in, naked and you clothed me not, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.  Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch, as you did it not to one of the least of these you did it not unto me.”  How will you respond to the inferno?