43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 1 Corinthians 15:43
It was 4 am. Captain John Reisling was the last to leave the scene of the fire. A fire that took the life out of the Eddington Potato processing plant, the second to the largest employer in town. Only the school system and the municipality had more.
As was his custom following these events, Captain Resling would be the last to leave the scene. He would often reflect on the night's events by praying for his men and the families effected by the fire; tonight he would pray for the livelihoods of those displaced by the fire.
John and his wife, Patty were members of the Eddington Evangelical Free Church where they attended. Patty often sang in the choir while he would rotate between ushering and teaching Sunday school. Over the years of being a fire fighter he has witnessed supernatural protection of his men and the lives they had saved. As a Christian he only had one explanation and that was his living Savior Jesus Christ. As much as the secular media would try to white wash all these events John knew that it was God who had shown up all those years.
John accepted Christ as his Savior at 18. He remembers vividly hearing the four spiritual laws through a friend of his and being so touched by his friends testimony that he knew that Jesus was at that moment knocking on the door of his heart. He remembered telling his parents and his brother and 3 sisters the next day about his decision and seeing his mom cry tears of joy because she had been praying for each of her kids that they would decide for themselves to follow Jesus and not just blindly follow the faith of his parents.
Tonight, he was in a particularly reflective mood. Standing at the scene of this fire he remembered some of the previous life-saving missions of his men. In each case he remembered how God had shown up at the scene.
He remembered one blaze where one of his guys became trapped when the ceiling collapsed on him and how two of his guys were able to lift the very heavy beam above him while another guy dragged him out from beneath. That young man survived his ordeal and later made a decision to accept Christ. He now has a wife and several adopted children and are members of the same Eddington Free Church. Every time he sees him John would see Joy and absolute peace radiant from him from simple conversations to how he loves his family.
He remembers how God showed up in those situations where lives could not be saved.
Years ago he and Patty lost their youngest son when he had a allergic reaction to a medication that for many would helped them, but for his youngest would be the cause of his death. He remembered vividly the 9-1-1 call his wife made where not only the police chaplain showed up, but their own children's Pastor. He knew that Pastor Jerry had just happened to get back from a trip on that very day his family needed him.
When the EMT came out and said in the most despondent voice, no parent would ever want to hear, that they tried everything, but they couldn't bring their son back It was at that point that Pastor Jerry was there to support his family. For many months and years John wrestled with God on the 'why's' of that night and selfishly accused God of taking one of his kids when he did everything for God from going to church with his family week after week to spending time with them.
Through time and talking with many of his friends John realized that it wasn't just his family who were weeping, but Jesus was also was weeping for them. He sense over the course of several years God showing up in very supernatural ways ministering to each of them.
He eventually turned the corner of his grief when he realized that his youngest son's earthly existence ended because we live in a fallen world. He also realized that his youngest was in the very presence of Jesus and enjoying the fruits of heaven and that one day his whole family would be united with him.
He also saw on a spiritual level how God was shaping his children's faith through it all.
As he walked through the puddles of water from the former blaze he recalled another scene his crew responded to. It was a life-saving incident at the Eddington middle school where one of the soccer players went into respiratory arrest.
The school had recently bought a defibrillator when the coaches son suddenly collapsed on the field. He was at the game and watched as the coach sent someone into the school to retrieve the defibrillator. He and some of his fellow EMT's ran down to the field and performed CPR on his son. It seemed like minutes with little success before the defribrillator arrived. It wasn't until they shocked him with the defibrillator that life returned to him. He remembers sitting in on a school board meeting just a year before that incident when the board was debating on whether the defibrillator would be worth the cost or if the money would be better spent on school supplies.
When the coaches son took his first breath John knew that the cost was worth it.
Captain John said his final prayers before getting in his car to return home to his wife. He was looking forward to handing the reigns of his position to a younger man and to retiring in several years.
He reflected on that decision he made at 18 and all of the blessings that flowed from that decision. He remembered God bringing Patty into his life and how strong she was for him. He remembered his now grown kids and God shaping each of them, even in the face of the loss.
He recalled the blessings that flowed from their involvement at the Eddington Evangelical Free Church where in the days following their loss telling his kids that if we don't go to church every time we don't feel like going we may miss out on the opportunity of being blessed with a kind word from a friend, or a timely message by the pastor.
He remembered how each child always got ready for Sunday church from that moment on and he smiled as he sees their now grown children honoring their commitment to the Lord on the Sabbath. He got into his truck, turned on the music which was at that moment playing amazing grace
As he drove away he began to sing the lyrics from that song. As he did so he thanked God for his amazing life.
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