Baptism in Fire – Believers Trial

Baptism in Fire – Tragedy

Are you a Christian?   Have you ever had problems or a tragedy that shook you to your core?   Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is this happening to me?”  If you’ve had such a circumstance then this article on the baptism in fire may be for you.  Although we cannot always understand God’s baptism in fire in our lives, it is for our benefit.

In 1992, my wife and I lost our only child in a tragic event.  She was twenty-four years old when she died, and she left three children ages one, three, and five.  The person responsible for her death received no consequences whatsoever for her death.  I do not have space in this article to go into specifics, but my wife and I were rocked to our core.

I remember my wife and I holding each other and my wife saying, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes, blessed be the name of the Lord.”  We then fell to the floor and cried and held each other for hours.  I don’t know how long we laid there; I only remember asking, “Why, Lord?” before I fell asleep.

The next morning I woke and read my Bible as I was accustomed to doing. I read Matthew 5:44-48.

• Matthew 5:44-48, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:   for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.   For if you love them which love you, what reward have ye?  Do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?  Do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Basically, I knew God was telling me to pray for the person responsible for my daughter’s death.

Baptism in Fire: Rebellion

I said, “No, I can’t do that. I won’t pray for him.” Just like Jonah in the Bible, I rebelled against God.

Baptism in Fire: Consequences

The next six years were the worst years of my life.  The gash in my heart grew deeper.  I continued to read my Bible, but I refused to obey God’s word.  I was no comfort to my wife, and I was totally miserable.  I was mad at God, and he knew it.  I could fool other people, but Jesus always knows.  I told God he didn’t understand.

Baptism in Fire: Obedience

Finally, I yelled at God and told him I would pray for the person who caused my daughter’s death, but I didn’t like it.  Every morning I prayed for him.  Within a month the gorge in my heart began to heal.  In my daily Bible reading I read John 3:16 which states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I had read that verse hundreds of times before, but it was then I realized the depth of Christ’s love for me and for all mankind.  I fell on my face and asked forgiveness for my great sin.

I would never have given my daughter for anyone, but God gave his Son for me.  Having experienced the horrible pain of the loss of my only child I realized that God, the Father, willingly bore the pain of Jesus being spat on, beaten, and crucified for us.  He knows and cares when we hurt more than we can possibly know.

God through his word began to comfort me. Isaiah 57:1-2, told me how the righteous perish to keep them from the evil to come.  Luke 16:19-31, tells me that my daughter is being completely comforted.  All in all, there were over twenty verses God used to heal my wounds.

I learned through this trial that God is not waiting to crush me when I fail.  He is waiting patiently for me to repent and obey, just as Job did.

I also learned I didn’t have to like everything God told me to do, but I needed to obey God’s word for my own benefit and the benefit of those I love.

I still miss my daughter, but I know I shall see her again.

God has healed my heart and I truly want the man responsible for my daughter’s death to be saved. When I see him, feelings well up in me that I repulse. (I am only human, and God knows it.) I immediately pray for him and I am freed from hate. God’s grace is amazing.

Baptism in Fire: The Point

Probably the least taught Doctrine of Christ is the baptism in fire, (Hebrews 6:1-2).

Jesus’s crucifixion was his baptism in fire, (read Matthew 20:17-28).

It is this baptism in fire we celebrate at communion, (I Corinthians 11:24-32).

Luke 3:16, teaches us that we shall all participate in the baptism in fire.

What does the baptism in fire accomplish for the believer?

Jesus Baptizes us in fire to make us holy, (Hebrews 12:9-10, I Peter 4:1-2)

The baptism in fire also allows the believer to receive rewards and to be partakers of Christ’s glory, (Matthew 5:11-12, I Peter 4:12-14, Romans 8:18).

The baptism in fire allows Christians to be chastised by Christ Jesus so we won’t be condemned with the world.  (I Corinthians 11:32)

It is here, in the baptism of fire, the great crucible of suffering, the flesh is destroyed and the spiritual man grows. It is here true fellowship with Christ begins. And it is here that the believer realizes that I AM CHRIST’S AND HE IS MINE AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, (Philippians 3,8)

Finally, suffering with Christ is the highest calling for any believer. May God give us grace to be counted to worthy to suffer for his name, (Acts 5:40-41).

In Christ
J-me
Copyright 2009 J-me

Let me know what you think of “Baptism in Fire: Believers Trial.”

Other articles in the Baptism in Fire series are:
Baptism in Fire: Third Witness

baptism in fire: believers trial

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