The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
The town of Paradise was in the path of the “Camp Fire” in northern California. The fire burned down 95 percent of this town of 27,000 people. Pastor Doug Crowder of the Magalia Baptist Church was hustling to save over 30 residents and church members. They were in the church parking lot when the fire exploded all around them, blocking any means of escape.
They all went inside the church building with fire on all sides and prayed through the night for God’s protection. In the words of the pastor, not only were they “totally unscathed” but the fire did not even touch the trees on the church property.
This reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into a fiery furnace. Daniel 3:25 says that King Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed, “I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm…(emphasis mine). The fourth person was God.
In the same town of Paradise comes another story of God’s power and glory revealed. With fire and total destruction in the background is a picture of an untouched cross, taken by someone escaping the flames. The pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church commented about the photo. He said, “This is our hope in the midst of tragedy that cannot be destroyed by anything.” Indeed, “…to us who are being saved {the cross} is the power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).
I am reminded of I Peter 1:7, “That the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Even though the context here is religious persecution, for the people of Paradise, California, it became a literal reality.
The United States and the world are both seeing more and more natural or man-caused disasters. People are losing everything they have. The answered prayer of protection by those in Magalia Baptist Church and the picture of the cross, untouched and still standing, should send a powerful message of not only the power of prayer, but that hope and salvation are found in God.
Hopefully, many victims of fires and other disasters have turned their hearts toward God. Though they have lost all of their material possessions, may they see God bring restoration and see a new spiritual beginning. Out of the ashes of destruction may they witness the beauty of God’s matchless grace.
