A Holy Nation Under Fire
My hometown is in the path of a monster fire. This past week, we’ve been tracking the deadly fires near Estes Park, Colorado watching two of the largest wildfires in Colorado history nearly merge-- in October which is an extremely unusual time for wildfires. Overnight one fire jumped the continental divide, burning over 100,000 acres, coming within a mile of the YMCA of the Rockies and the condo where we spent much of lockdown.
Add to these fires a fracturing nation, a contentious election with two frightening choices, communities of color who are hurting, economies crippled by covid, and a global pandemic. And that’s just in America. Every nation has their own similar tragedies unfolding. No wonder we all feel so heavy-hearted these days!
The past few months I’ve been sitting with three little words from 2 Peter 2:9:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…”
A holy nation. We belong to a holy nation! Somehow I’ve missed that phrase tucked in among the powerful descriptors of our privilege and identity.
Alex and I are global people. Our calling is to the nations (plural). Our hearts are fixed on the building of God’s Kingdom and the strengthening of those carrying the Good News to every people group. And we haven’t lived in America for over a decade.
And STILL I find what is in happening in our home nation distressing and disorienting. So I can’t imagine what those of you who are living in the USA are feeling. Nor do I underestimate the heartbreak of those of you whose primary calling is to fight to bring light into your schools, neighborhoods, and communities. We are grieving with you. We are praying with you.
Our nation’s fundamental relationship with God has shifted. No longer can we assume Biblical values will be woven into decision making— on the right or the left. We can no longer place our security in earthly structures and nations, because these pillars of security are shifting.
The Church is aflame at this moment. The fires of purification have kindled around our lives threatening (or is it promising?) to consume anything that is not of God’s Kingdom.
The fire is visiting us all in different forms: Loss of sense of control. A health crisis. Financial insecurity. A struggling marriage. Curtailed freedoms. A natural disaster. Division among families and friends.
Everyone has something burning right now. It’s painful. It’s frightening. It’s disorienting. We didn’t expect it to go after some of the things we hold so precious here in our lifetime.
EVERYTHING will undergo the fire of purification at some point. 1 Corinthians 3:12 tells us,
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is... It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
The fire’s purpose is to reveal and test quality. What burns— needs to go. But we won’t be left with just a pile of ashes, the good is revealed as well— the eternal treasures, purified by the fire. Unfortunately, in our humanity, we are often clinging to wood, hay and straw, unable to discern in the moment what needs to be burned away. But God knows.
Ultimately when the smoke clears — what will remain will be a Holy nation, the Bride of Christ, purified and ready for her union with Jesus. If we do not pull up to the bigger picture of Who is in control and how this story will end or we will slide into anxiety and despair.
The reminder that I am a part of “a holy nation” has become a new pillar of security for me in these days. I need to remember that I serve a King whose throne is upheld by justice and righteousness. The government of my Nation rests on the shoulders of the Prince of Peace. And that the very nature of my King is one that both upholds truth and acts in love towards His people.
In this moment when many of the structures of the church and society are being burned (and some of it needs to go!), we take our place in society as the preserved remnant. At every moment when the church is scattered, God always preserves a remnant. We identity less and less like people of earthly nations, and more as exiles — appointed to a foreign land.
God is always looking for a faithful few— holding to His promises in the face of a crumbling world and standing the in gap for those who are living in darkness.
Watching the march of the fire across the Colorado map this week, I was struck by the positioning of two pillar properties in the the Estes Valley. On the western end of Estes Park lies the YMCA of the Rockies and to furthest eastern edge is Ravenscrest, a Torchbearer’s Bible school. The Estes Valley is sandwiched by these two properties with a long history of praying, fervent Christians.
They, along with many other Christians who hold Estes Park dear to their hearts, have been doing exactly what the remnant is called to do in times of crisis: intercede on behalf of the communities in which they live. People were praying back the edges of the fire from town and covering these firefighters in prayer. Miraculously, the fire fighters held an impossible blaze. ‘Miraculously” a major snowstorm arrived 24 hours earlier than forecast. Thanks be to God.
Take heart today, no matter what is happening in the nation where you live— your King is still on the throne. His heart towards you is goodness even when things you hold precious are burning. Not everything that goes into the fire will burn away. Good things will emerge from seasons of burning, the things of eternal value will survive, purified and given to you in new form.
Ultimately we will be like Zechariah — finding God Himself there with us in the fire.
And I will bring the third part through the fire,
and will refine them as silver is refined,
and will try them as gold is tried:
they shall call on my name,
and I will hear them:
I will say, It is my people:
and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Zechariah 13:9
*** The above picture was taken at Bible Park which overlooks the YMCA of the Rockies as the fire was encroaching.