Lighting The Fires Of Hope

History records a fascinating story during the Civil War. During the winter of 1864, Union and Confederate armies faced one another in Petersburg, Virginia. After more than three years of fighting, losses had been heavy on both sides.

Late one night Major General Pickett was on the battlefield when he received word that his wife had given birth to a son. The Confederate soldiers began to light bonfires up and down the ravine to honor the news.

On the other side Grant watched as the flames were lit. Sending some men to find out what was going on, they returned with the good news. Grant had been longtime friends with Pickett, and ordered the Union soldiers to light fires in celebration as well.

For many miles the fires burned that night, no shots were fired, no lives ended in battle, and for a few brief hours the darkness receded in light of the birth of a child.

Alistair Begg shared, “Our witness — good or bad — is the overflow of our lives.” It is also true that our lives are the overflow of our beliefs, which are largely determined by our consistent thoughts. And one of the most powerful thoughts is to have hope for a compelling future and the confidence that our steps are guarded by the One who has our best interests at heart.

A few years ago disk jockey Liz Curtis Higgs engaged her every selfish whim. One day Howard Stern told her, “You need to get your life together.” She was surprised her behavior received rebuke from the popular host, known for his own wild antics.

In the past she had been badly burned by a number of romantic relationships, and had all but lost trust in men. A friend who seemed to have a peace about her life repeatedly invited Liz to come to a worship service. Looking for answers anywhere, Liz agreed to go with her friend, once.

She listened as the minister shared the words of Ephesians, “And husbands you sacrifice yourself, you give yourself for your wives just as Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for the church and died for her.”

Liz whispered to her friend, “Shoot! I’d gladly give myself to any man if I knew he’d die for me.” Pausing, her friend quietly responded, “There is a Man who loves you enough to die for you. His name is Jesus Christ. That’s how much He loves you.”

In the quietness of the moment, Liz found peace in the message of the One that entered into our world to light a fire in our hearts, bringing the promise that in the darkness his light shines all the brighter. May that same fire burn in us as well.