Baptism by fire

     When I was about 10 years old I didn't know much.  No one 10 years old does. Living on the farm left a lot of learning to be accomplished and often at the expense of lack of instruction.  With everyone in the family actively working in different areas of the farm it wasn't unusual to find yourself with a task that seriously challenged your learning curve.  One such moment came for me during harvest.  My grandfather was running the combine and I was waiting in the truck for someone older than me and more experienced than me to drive the truck.  My grandfather wasn't one for waiting and waved for me to bring the truck so that he could off load the grain.  What was I to do?  I obeyed and got behind the wheel, started the truck and with my feet barely reaching the pedals I drove the truck to where my grandfather waited.  It was my first time driving an automobile.  I'd driven tractors but never the truck!  The baptism by fire was necessary in not just my life but he life of the farm and those involved in its operation. 
     While there are many different experiences in my life where this baptism by fire took place, most are of lesser importance.  Disappointment with many experiences formed the path that I took over time.  Baptisms by fire appear at the onset to be events where we are alone and not dependent on other participants.  It's the test taking of life.  You can't cheat.  You need to own the experience and go forward.  Going backwards or not trying weren't options for me.  They still are not options for me.  Biblically, there is much precedent for baptisms by fire.  Moses, Aaron, David, Joseph, Mary, Peter, John, and so many others were brought into their calling by baptisms by fire.  Jeremiah was about 13 when God called him to service. He told Jeremiah that his life was going to be miserable, lonely and that he would only be giving prophecy that was doomsday in nature.  God told him to not take a wife, not have a family and to not settle or own any property.  Wow!  Talk about your challenged life at 13.  How many 13 year olds would obey such a command today?  How many would recognize the voice of God if he spoke to you?  Let's not forget Mary who would have been somewhere around 13-15 years old when her baptism by fire took place. 
     We can belabor the point that these baptisms by fire are unfair, un-needed, unfulfilling, or even unnecessary.  That won't change the event.  Nor will it change the outcome.  Someone still needs to rise to the occasion and drive the truck, tell the people they are doomed and bring the Savior into the world.  Baptisms by fire occur daily.  Yours may be that person whom other seek out for advice.  You don't like to give advice.  You don't even like attention from any other source than your family.  But, God has gifted you with a heart that can listen AND hear which enables you to speak into other peoples lives.  It's only after the event that people who go through a baptism by fire sit back and see the big picture.  Or at least the bigger picture.  We don't become aware of the impact of our being submitted to the will of God in the same way.  It may be years before we are able to say, "That's why such and such happened!"  Challenges are there as well.  We, being a fallen human race, tend to rationalize and justify why we should NOT be the person to do, say, or challenge events or people in our lives.  Yet, that's just what we are commanded to do.  We are commanded to be "ready to give account of the hope that is within you." 
     Living a surrendered life isn't difficult.  Living a life of resistance to the will of God is not only difficult but dangerous.  When we take a chance and stand up to that bully, we go through a baptism of fire in our character.  Whatever the outcome of that event, we are changed forever.  When we speak the Gospel for the first time to someone God has directed us to speak with, we are also changed forever.  When God tells you to lay hands on someone and pray for their healing; not only are you changed but the person being ministered to just went through their baptism by fire.  Living the life God wants you to live means a lot of baptism by fire moments.  Why?  Because you never know just what He will encourage you to do next.  The world has by political correctness taken us to a point where fear of offending has prohibited us from standing up for anything.  Christians need the baptism by fire events brought about by God so that their faith and the faith of others can increase.  Just what is it that God has asked you to do?  Step out in faith that he is able to take you where he sends you.  Your life will be changed forever.