This “Advent Adventure” series would not be appropriate without a few more adventures.
Soon after we moved into the Tzeltal village of San Antonio, a huge 55-gallon drum full of gasoline arrived by plane. The barrel was almost 3’ tall and 2’ in diameter. Local men helped us roll it into our house. The only place it could fit upright was at the end of our table where it also served as an extra seat.
We were busy all that day teaching classes, and by the time Judy and I had fixed dinner and washed dishes, darkness had already fallen. We lit several candles in order to see what we doing. Now it was time to refill our Coleman lantern. I tipped the drum to pour the gasoline while Judy held the lantern’s base steady.
Poof! The flames from a nearby candle set the gasoline fumes on fire and jumped to the mouth of the drum and from there to the table. In two seconds, four-foot flames leapt into the air. Above our heads was a grass roof…very dry and exceedingly flammable. By God’s grace, I grabbed one of our damp dishtowels from the shelf and smothered the opening to the barrel. Judy grabbed another towel and swatted the flames on the table. Between us, we managed to contain the fire and only lost one plastic tablecloth.
Lesson learned: Do not fill gasoline lanterns by candlelight! But we also realized that God’s angel had once again been busy guarding our lives.
Jesus faced numerous life-threatening occasions while he was here on earth. In Luke 4:29, an angry mob in Nazareth planned to throw him off a cliff. In John 7:30 and 44, Jews tried to seize him, but he escaped “because his hour had not yet come.” In John 8:59, furious Pharisees picked up stones to stone him. And in John 10:39, they once more planned to stone him, but he eluded their grasp. He asked, “For which of my good works do you want to stone me?”
Judy and I could have lost our home and possibly our lives, but it resulted from our own foolishness. Jesus almost lost his life because he spoke the truth. Later, he offered up his life for us.
At Christmas, the truth of the Incarnation is often forgotten in a pile of discarded gift wrapping and bows. Take time today to thank him for the best gifts ever: Salvation, mercy, forgiveness, and joy!
Emily, we’re sure grateful for your daily, thoughtful Advent Adventures.” They’ve become an added part of our long-held, daily advent devotions tradition.
God’s gifted you with a wonderful way of bringing the truths in God’s Word to life! Thank you for including us again this year.