Be fruitful and multiply – Genesis 1:28
When God created the earth He mandated that humanity care for it. “Then the LORD God took man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15). It wasn’t God’s plan to worship His creation or make it a god, but to enjoy it by being fruitful and multiplying (Genesis 1:28). What we see happening in the fiery parts of California is a consequence of actively forsaking God as Creator. Foolishness is forsaking God (Psalm 14). We are seeing the consequences of foolhardy godless environmental idolatry. It’s painful and tragic.
These fires didn’t have to happen. They are not accidental. These fires were caused. The Democratic governor and crew stopped controlled burn offs and allowed reservoirs to be empty all in the name of environmentalism. Their policies are literally going up in flames. This is not true care for nature but the result of nutty Green stupidity that over recent years has scarred nature in tragic unnecessary ways. These fires didn’t have to happen.
Now we’re hearing these fires may be the result of arson. More pain from policies that are not only out of touch with reality, but the depth of obtuse ineptitude is evidence of either an intentional strategy to destroy precious parts of our nation or just plane stupidity.
One must also wonder, did the arsonists infiltrate our nation through the open borders of a globalist immigration policy? It would not surprise us if they did. Political policies have real life consequences.
We must be forewarned. Is the tragic state of California what we want for our nation as a whole? No! People are fleeing California in droves. We’re seeing the sad effects of short-sighted foolish elitist head in the clouds policies that place no priority on protecting Americans or really anyone else. The more we see, the more we should recognize the bullet we dodged last November. Remember this for future elections too.
These fires, the loss of property and the loss of life are tragic. On first glance one might be tempted to associate the fires with the hurricanes of 2024 and their victims in terms of loss. But the hurricane property loss, loss of homes, devastation of families, and loss of life was far worse. The pain of the hurricane victims was amplified by the lack of assistance for them from our national governmental “leaders.” Maybe they weren’t the right political color. One wonders. Funds that should have been available for them had been shipped oversees to support a very questionable complicated conflict. In some ways there’s no comparison. The cupboard was bare when resources should have been there.
But there is a compounded pain with these fires that brings them close to that of the hurricanes. While the hurricanes were a force of nature that couldn’t be avoided, these fires were a cause of human blunder and could have been avoided. The pain and loss is compounded by the frustration with empty headed government forced inactions made by politicians who were freely elected (or maybe not so freely or honestly elected). People voted in the people responsible for making the policies that have led to such national tragedy.
What’s my point? My point is that politics puts people in positions to make policies that impact people in real life situations. These fires, are the product of years of voting in representatives who have ceased caring for their constituents long ago and instead are hard at work building their own multimillionaire personal empires. That’s the hard truth. And what we see is vivid evidence and support for being involved and engaged and informed in the world in which we live.
But the solution is not merely political. Christian, these stark realities expose whether or not we are loving our neighbor. It’s part of being a Good Samaritan. A good loving neighbor protects, helps, informs, and encourages those around them. To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17). Too many of us have been disengaged and aloof. It’s not enough for us to simply feel bad for people when we could have prevented their pain.
The fires are burning. People are hurting. The hurricane victims are still hurting. Some have and will serve in hands on direct helping efforts to relieve these pains. But much of what has happened, is happening, and if we continue this path, will continue to happen, if we remain uninvolved. The pain will repeat over and over. We might not be able to stop all the pains of this world, but we can make a difference and prevent some. Let the fires of California ignite a fire in our heart and soul to be hands on lovers of those around us.
Wherever tragedy occurs, let us pray but also put feet on our prayers. Let’s reverse the trend from disengagement to engagement in our neighborhoods, in schools and school board meetings, in local, state, and national elections, in our workplaces, everywhere, let’s be salt, let’s be light, lets make a difference by making our Savior Jesus known in tangible ways.
We don’t know how much longer our Savior will tarry, but as long as He does, let’s make a difference for Him. Let’s have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them (Ephesians 6:11). Let’s be His ambassadors of reconciliation ( 2 Corinthians 5:20). Let’s be His witnesses powerfully in the Spirit in every way (Acts 1:8). Let’s bring a different kind of fire to those around us, a fire of the heart, a fire of the Holy Spirit. “There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. “ (Acts 2: 3). Let’s once again turn this upside down world right side up. God help us. God lead us.
Why the wild fires? Maybe as a sign of judgment. Certainly as evidence of failed human policies. But maybe an intended evil can be turned to good if it lights a fire in us to make His presence known. In Jesus’ name, amen.