Faith after the Fire...

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Yesterday a community in southern Manitoba experienced tragedy when a horrific fire passed through the small town of Vita. With strong south winds blowing, a grass fire quickly moved into the town forcing the entire town to be evacuated on very short notice. Four houses burned down as well as a bridge on the highway leading into the town of Vita. What caught my attention has been the faith of one particular family who lost everything and escaped with just the clothes on their backs. Their names are Jacob and Margaretha Marten. Mrs Marten was interviewed by both CBC radio and also by the Winnipeg Free Press.


This is what's left of the Marten's home ( picture from Winnipeg Free Press)

 Through this tragedy, Margaretha Marten is sharing her faith and being a shining witness for the Lord. Here is what the Winnipeg Free Press reported :

"We don’t turn from the Lord now," said Margaretha Marten. "We are safe and we don’t question His ways."

She and her husband, Jacob, returned to Vita this morning to see the charred aftermath of a wild fire that swept thourgh the edge of town on Tuesday afternoon.

While they have their faith, they no longer have material possessions.
When firefighters pounded on their door at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday, and warned that a raging fire was only minutes away, they fled with only the clothes on their backs.
This morning, Jacob peered into the smoldering ruins, trying to see a metal strongbox that held the couple's personal papers, including insurance policy on the house that had an estimated value of $125,000.
The couple said it's too early to say if they will continue to live in Vita. For now, they are being surrounded by the loving support of their seven grown children, several of whom inspected the rubble with their parents, and their church family at Sommerfeld Mennonite Church in New Bothwell.

This reminds me of the importance of becoming grounded solidly in faith in the Lord Jesus before hard times come into our livess. Then if and when tragedy strikes in our lives, we can stand strong like the Martens are doing, trusting in the Lord regardless of our circumstances.  We do not need to wonder if God is good or if He has forgotten us or how we will carry on. Through faith in the Lord Jesus, we can be confident and have assurance that  - Yes, God is good, and He will never forget about us and He never leaves those who trust in Him.
Hebrews 3:5-6 for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Matthew 28:20   lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.