They were stuck. With the heat rising rapidly, it would only be a matter of time before it overtook them. There had been a gas explosion in the basement and the ensuing fire caused the radio traffic to increase as sector companies informed command of the changing conditions. To no avail, Clay Ennis Hand attempted to send out "May Days", repeatedly getting walked on by other callers. "We're gonna die!" the handicapped woman cried, her voice muffled behind the towel wrapped around her face."We are not going to die!" Clay snapped back. "We've just got to connect on the radio to tell them where we are."Before he keyed the microphone one last time, he prayed, "God, let your will be done, but we need you to show us the way out of this heat."The ceiling crashed down upon them, filling the room with insulation dust. A pike pole stabbed through the dusty air, clearing out the remaining ceiling panels.Clay immediately reacted by jumping up on the bed and grabbing the end of the wooden pole. "Ladder 9 has a vertical ventilation hole." the radio blared.Clay pumped up and down on the pike pole and keyed his mic. "Ladder 9, we are stuck in the room right below you!"A roof ladder descended through the vent hole and was like a stairway to heaven. "Anytime God leads you to do something that has God-sized dimensions, you will face a crisis of belief. When you face a crisis of belief, what you do next reveals what you really believe about God." (Blackaby)When God reveals Himself, His purposes, or His ways to us, it is decision time. What will we do about this God thing? Whatever we decide to do will reflect what we really believe about God, regardless of what we say we believe. This is our life we are describing. It is who we are. Everyday we face the opportunity to choose how we will live: self-centered or God-centered.The self-centered road leads to disobedience to God's calling. The God-centered path leads to true dependence on God to complete His work. It is a path of action, willingly seeking God's direction by taking steps of faith, denying our ability to do it ourselves."Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He will reward those who earnestly seek Him." (Heb. 11: 6)Do we really believe? Does our faith prove it? With God's main focus to bring people to know Him, our faith is essential. If we completely trust Him to take control of our lives, people will see results that could only be attibuted to God's intervention. They will be attracted to Him! Now, that is a God-sized invitation. To God be the glory.Next week: Unit 8.
