HD Homilies- Fire

Often, when ENan and I are traveling from Wallace to Topsail Beach for dancing, beach walking or surf fishing, we take the “road less traveled.”  The back road takes us through Deep Bottom, Pin Hook, Maple Hill, and a few other crossroads you won’t find on a map.

Last week we went the back way to Hampstead for a Friday night concert, avoiding the weekend congestion on Hwy 17N out of Wilmington.  We had driven as far as Pin Hook when a fellow dancing couple texted to say the concert had been canceled due to unexpected rain.  We stopped to turn around in the parking lot of the Pin Hook Volunteer Fire Department when the sign pictured above caught my eye.  “From a little spark may burst a flame.” 

Although the sign is clearly a warning about the dangers of wildfires, I thought at first the message was sponsored by The Church at Pin Hook, which is located across the road.  There is a pretty good spiritual application to the words beyond the physical warning.

The Book of Acts tells of an incident that happened weeks after the resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus had told his followers, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised… the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 1:2-3)  On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were together waiting, just as Jesus had instructed them.  “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven… and they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest  on each of them.”  (Acts 2:2-3)  Each of the disciples began to speak, and people from all over the world understood the message even though they spoke different languages.  The spark of good news that each disciple shared ignited faith in the hearts of others, and within months, thousands of new believers were added to the church.

This coming Sunday - seven weeks after we celebrated Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus - is Pentecost Sunday.  Those of us who are followers of Jesus have the same Holy Spirit dwelling within us that empowered the disciples 2000 years ago.  God still wants every person He created to hear the good news of salvation.  The Spirit of God can fan the flames of hope into an all-consuming fire.

Our prayer should be, “Oh God, do it again!”

-Dr. Jim Baldwin