The Ultimate Firefighter

The red light started flashing in the fire station.  There was a fire at a house nearby.  Some children had started their house on fire while playing with the matches that Dad said not to play with.

The firemen moved very quickly getting their special fire suits on.   Then they all got in the fire truck and headed to the burning house.

One of the firefighter's, Emmanuel, was the greatest of them all.  He had rescued so many people from all kinds of burning buildings.  Emmanuel was very courageous.  No one on earth had as much courage as Emmanuel.  Even though we saw Emmanuel as strong and courage he saw himself as weak and could easily get discouraged.  Since Emmanuel saw himself this way he would often pray to God His Father for strength to do his job.  This job was no exception so Emmanuel bowed his head, closed his eyes and prayed.

When the fire truck got to the burning house, fire and smoke were everywhere.   Two children were trapped in the hall way upstairs and one was already passed out because of the smoke.

When Emmanuel saw how much the house was on fire.  The chances of getting out once he went in were slim.  But Emmanuel thought more of the children inside than he did about himself getting hurt.   Emmanuel quickly and yet cautiously went inside the burning house as the firemen got out the hoses.





Emmanuel found the children very fast because the children were low to the ground and crying.   When Emmanuel got upstairs he saw the children who were trapped.  They could hardly breathe and nearly passed out because of the smoke.  Emmanuel saw that the whole roof was on fire and about to fall down.



Emmanuel had to think and move fast.   The roof of the whole house was about to come crashing down.  And this fire was different.  Emmanuel knew that this fire was hotter than any other fire in the world.  Yet He still risked his life to save the children from the dreadful fire.  So Emmanuel threw himself on top of the children guarding them from the flames.   Emmanuel had saved the children from the fiery roof, but didn't save himself from taking the full heat of the fire.

The fire was no ordinary fire, it was so hot that they burnt Emmanuel's suit right up in an instant.  The heat entered Emmanuel body, but He did not burn up and neither did the children.  The fire did not destroy Emmanuel but it sure did hurt.  So bad that he cried out in pain.

The other firefighters couldn't do anything because the flames were just to powerful.  Emmanuel and the children would have to wait until the fire stopped before they could get out.

The house continued to burn for what seemed like forever for Emmanuel.  The two girls where safe because somehow Emmanuel's body felt the pain but he did not burn.  Another amazing thing was that even though the whole roof fell on top of Emmanuel, none of his bones were broken. The children had stopped crying because they realized that they were safe now because Emmanuel let himself experience the heat of the fiercest fire any had ever seen so that they would not have to.

Firefighter video

Mary with Christ centered hope!

Read Mary with no hope first.   Then read Mary with some hope.  Then read this post last or you will not fully understand.  (Parents please read this all the way thru first before reading it to your children because it may be to scary.   My point in the series on "Mary"  is that Jesus promises "trouble",  Jesus can't lie.  So you will have trouble even kids.  the first story is about Mary in what she thinks is a really bad situation.  "Mary with some hope" takes a closer look at the context of Mary's trouble which gives her hope.  Then "Mary with Christ center hope" gives the perspective of trouble from a biblical christian view.)


 
   Mary who was 6 years old opened her eyes and could barely make out what was happening.  She remembered that she had cancer and was on her way to the hospital.  The only Doctor that could help was with her when the boat crashed.  He told Mary before the crash happened that "I am with you and I will help."   Mary's head hurt real bad.  Mary could still think clearly even though she hit her head on something when the boat crashed.  Not only was Mary not focused but her body was all messed up as well.  Both arms were in excruciating pain and she could not feel her legs.

 Mary heard a familiar voice.  It was the Doctor (God) telling her that they were in a boat accident on the way to the hospital but not to worry because I am here for your spiritual good/Christlikeness and my Glory.  Mary trusted the Doctor because He was wise and able to do spiritual heart surgery.  Spiritual surgery was more important to Mary than getting rid of the pain, so Mary was happy in her spirit but pain "which is not pleasurable" in her body.  (Her will being inline with God's will/wills includes "Joy in God."

As far as Mary could tell she was on a beach.  She could feel the soft sand underneath her.  And she could also hear the waves hitting the shore because of the storm.  Plus she was all wet and freezing.

Just then the Doctor came by that Mary remembered.  Mary couldn't say a word because of all the pain she was in.  But she could still see the loving Doctor kneeling beside her with a comforting look.   The Doctor told Mary that he loved her and that "in this world you will have trouble" I will be there in the trouble taking out death in you.  And of course Mary wanted the cancer out so she trusted the Doctor to get the cancer out.  He took out the surgical knife, put His hand firmly on my shoulder for comfort and said "This is for your spiritual good and My Glory." The Doctor then began to cut my stomach open and started cutting out the death and cancer in me.
"It really hurts right now." Mary says, but I know I am getting better right now because Him cutting my sin/death/cancer out is a good thing.  The pain felt while the cancer was being cut out by the Doctor was minimal compared to what she deserved.  Therefore she shouldn't complain but thank the LORD for being merciful during what is the worst thing ever experienced by Mary so far in her life.  Lam. 3:39 ¶ Why should any living mortal, or any man, Offer complaint in view of his sins? 

 A good thing is happening to me.  A spiritually God glorifying thing all around and a temporal, minimal pain now.  Soon He will cut it all out, He promised.  Him cutting out death in me is a good yet painful thing all at the same time.  Good and happy cuz I can see and want the Glory of God.

Now if Mary could see that God was holding back full judgement and that the judgement that was held back was what Christ purchased on the cross for her.  Mary would now see the intended special full Glory of God on display in Christ at the cross.


Remember in the first story Mary didn't know that "the man" causing the pain was The Doctor the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Psalm 94:12  Blessed is the man whom you chasten, O LORD,  and teach him out of your law.

New International Version  Is. 45:7
I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

NASB  Job 5:18  "For He inflicts pain, and he gives relief: He wounds and also his hands heal."

See the difference between Mary seeing clearly after hitting her head and Mary being not focused in the  "No hope and some hope versions"?     

If we can "behold the glories of God in Christ"  during some of the most painful situations then sanctification by faith in beholding the Glory of Christ happens from glory to glory by the Spirit.

Mary with some hope.

(  My point in the series on "Mary"  is that Jesus promises "trouble",  Jesus can't lie.  So you will have trouble even kids.  the first story is about Mary in what she thinks is a really bad situation.  "Mary with some hope" takes a closer look at the context of Mary's trouble which gives her hope.  Then "Mary with Christ center hope" gives the perspective of trouble from a biblical christian view.)

Mary With Some Hope

Mary had lived most of her life like normal children.  She would often play with the other kids.  She loved ice cream, pizza and gummy bears.

All seemed fine til one day her chest started to hurt real bad.  Mary's father took her to the doctor and they found out she had a very rare life threatening cancer.   Even though the cancer was rare, the good news was that there was only one doctor with the skills and tools to help Mary and he lived in town.  When they found the doctor that could help he said,  "If Mary did not receive treatment soon then she would die."

The doctor they found said that he could do surgery to get the cancer out but the nearby hospital did not have the proper anesthetic for the surgery.  Mary would have to go to a specific hospital in another country.  The hospital could only be reached by boat so they left as soon as possible.

Mary quickly got on the boat with her father.  The doctor was with them as well with his special tools.  On the way there Mary got more sick.  The cancer was affecting her body more and more as time went by.  And to make matters worse the ship was changing course due to an incoming storm.

Time was running out for Mary and the Doctor knew it.  If they didn't get to the hospital soon then the doctor would have to do surgery without the proper anesthetic  in order to save her life. Which was the last thing the doctor wanted to do.

The weather got worse and the ship could not find a way around it.  The captain of the ship saw an island nearby where the weather was better so they headed that direction.  As they headed for the island the waves got so strong that it tossed everyone to and fro.  The ship tossed Mary hard into a wall.  Mary put her hands in front of her to stop from slamming into the wall but broke both arms could not handle the force.  Both of Mary's arms had be broken.

The storm was so bad that the captain could not see the rocks that were near the island and the ship ran straight into them.  The shock from the collision threw Mary backwards into a table that hit her lower back first and then her head.  The impact of the table caused her to be paralyzed from the waist down and gave her a concussion.

Because the damage from the crash was so great the ship began to sink.  The doctor ran to get Mary, who was paralyzed and laying in the corner passed out.

The doctor was very careful to keep his surgical tools close to him as he picked Mary up and put her in a life boat.  The doctor and others paddled very fast to get to shore.  They where still afraid of the storm.  Also the waves where very high causing water to enter the boat where may was laying so the doctor lifted Mary's head high so she would not drown.



Soon the doctor and Mary got the shore along with some other people.  Everyone was in a panic.  Fathers looking for their children and children crying looking for their parents and all kinds of people in pain because of the crash.  Getting to shore was one thing but Mary's condition had worsened.  Mary would soon die if the doctor would not perform surgery right then and there.  As the doctor was getting his tools.....   Now read Mary with no Hope.





Why would Mary have hope in this situation?

How did knowing the context of the story help?

How did knowing who was causing Mary's pain help give her hope?

If Mary would have known that it was a doctor causing her the pain would she be mad or angry with the doctor for opening her up and saving her life even if it caused her all that pain?




Everything that was needed to know to give Mary hope was either forgotten by Mary in the hopeless version of the story or she could not see clearly to understand who it was that was causing her so much pain.

Mary with no hope during pain and suffering

(Parents please read this all the way thru first before reading it to your children because it may be to scary.   My point in the series on "Mary"  is that Jesus promises "trouble",  Jesus can't lie.  So you will have trouble even kids.  the first story is about Mary in what she thinks is a really bad situation.  "Mary with some hope" takes a closer look at the context of Mary's trouble which gives her hope.  Then "Mary with Christ center hope" gives the perspective of trouble from a biblical christian view.)

    Mary opened her eyes and could barely make out what was happening.   Her head hurt real bad like she had hit it on something.  She couldn't quite think straight.   Not only was Mary mentally not focused but her body was all messed up as well.  Both of her arms were in excruciating pain and she cold not feel her legs.

 

There were other people there but Mary only got more scared because the people were screaming and in a panic.  Mother's were screaming looking for their children and both parents and children alike were all crying.
  As far as Mary could tell she was on a beach.  She could feel the sand underneath her body and hear the waves every now and then.  Plus she was all wet and freezing.


    Just then a man came by that seemed to look a little familiar.  Mary could hardly say a word cuz she was in so much pain.  But she could still see the man who was now kneeling next to her on the beach.  He said a few things that she did not understand and then put his hand firmly on her shoulder and then took out a knife.

   The man proceeded to cut her chest straight down the middle.  Mary screeched out loudly in pain and tried to get away from the man but he was to strong for her.  Plus she couldn't move her legs, her arms were broken and she was only 6 years old.

  When Mary wasn't  squirming very much the man continued to cut inside of Mary near her heart.  This caused Mary to be in even worse pain than before.  "What is this man doing to me?"  she thought to herself.   All the screaming around her, pain in her arms, not being able to move, someone cutting her open and so much pain she thought "How come all this bad is happening to me?  I hurt everywhere and some mean man is holding me down and cutting me open.  No wondering everyone is crying and screaming.  There is a bad man doing terrible things to everyone."  Mary started to think that this same man was the one who broke her arms and caused her legs to not move so that he could be even more mean to her.

   Every cut that the man made was more painful than the next.  Mary was in great pain, was angry and hated the man for doing all of this to her.  And even worse, Mary had lost all hope of ever making it out of this alive.


For hope go to post on Mary with some hope.

The story ends abruptly because in life when we are in the middle of any type of pain then we don't know, with absolute certainty, how it will end.

Fall of the Morning Star

There once was a the Greatest Conductor of them all who wanted to display himself to all the world.  So He created His own instruments perfectly made for His purposes.  The Great Conductor gave instructions to His instruments that they should never play the forbidden tune and if they did then they would be dirty and never be able to do what the Conductor originally made them for.

One of the instruments, named morning star, was capable of making sounds more glorious than all the rest.  He also ranked higher than all the other's.  This gave morning star to high an opinion of himself and his abilities.  His opinion of himself grew so great that he thought he could play his own tune that was better than what the Great Conductor was having them play.

Morning star used his craftiness and pomp to convince a third of the other instruments to join him in playing what they thought would be a better tune than what the Great Conductor.

 The flute could not play a tune, the violin sounded terrible and the drums just went thump.  It all sounded like terrible noise to anyone passing by.






Found in the form of an angel and elevated to authority real fast he got prideful.   Found in a position of high authority, quickly but having to serve others.  Context changed.  The mind of Lucifer got confused/twisted, perception of himself in relation to God, therefore a good will with a confused mind chooses what it thinks to be good or the apparent good

"Found in the form of man he humbled himself"   Christ immediately finding Himself in a certain context humbles Himself.   While Lucifer findings himself crafty, wise, pomp, high position of authority, elevated fast and having to humble himself to serve mankind he could not do it.