photo #7045478

Forest fires are a huge problem in California. Lightning strikes, cigarettes, and dry weather contribute to the problem, but the landscape is perfectly set up for raging wildfires. The climate is dry and hot, there is not much water, and the arid plants are like kindling. You may have heard the phrase, "Fight fire with fire." This is usually referring to fighting back against someone that is your opponent, aggression with aggression. I was surprised to learn that one of the most effective ways to fight a wildfire is with fire! Firefighters will execute a controlled burn, burning up the plants and grass that is in the path of the wildfire. They will be able to put this fire out, and when the wild fire arrives, there is nothing left for it to burn, so it eventually dies out: a brilliant strategy giving new meaning to the phrase.We may get angry and feel vengeful, wanting to retaliate against someone that has been violent or aggressive to us by being violent or aggressive to them. We should not do this, Paul writes in his letter to the Romans. We should, above all, be like Christ, turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), living peaceably with all men. You may have also heard the phrase, "Revenge is a dish best served cold." I think it should be changed to, "Revenge is a dish best never served." Christ taught to love even your enemy (Matthew 5:43-48), and Paul reiterates this teaching in these verses, imploring us not to be overcome by evil but instead overcome evil with good. Go from this place to love the Lord, and love the people; to serve the Lord, and serve the people. Leave everything else, including vengeance, to God.