THROUGH WATER AND FIRE
by Erwin Bourne—March 10, 2002
On October 21, 1968, Jean and I with our family of
five drove into the interior, frontier city of
Fairbanks, Alaska. These were the pre-pipeline days
and it boasted of 15,000 people. We hadn’t driven far
down South Cushman street before we encountered a
large sign making its boast:
Come hell or high water,
Fairbanks is here to stay!
Fairbanks founded in 1905 had burned to the ground
several times; and the Chena River flowing through the
city’s center had a history of flooding the city. One
of my earliest jobs was the restoring of a house which
was flood damaged. We were just doing the finishing
touches when the house was gutted with fire. Being a
cement contractor, I had to locate the high-water mark
of the ’67 flood to be certain that the finished floor
was 18 inches higher. Today, because of oil,
Fairbanks boasts of about 75,000 inhabitants.
As a Christian, don’t boast! Doing it on your own,
you’ll be swamped. We as missionaries—now on the
three-sisters-frontier of Colombia, Peru and Brazil,
are going through deep waters. Two preachers have
gotten defiant of authority. When one got into severe
difficulties, he said “I was showing a Christian
spirit so I’m not to be blamed. Glory to God!” The
Apostle Peter wrote: Be happy if you are insulted for
being a Christian…However, it must not be for murder,
stealing…or making trouble (I Pet, 4:14, 15 NLT).
Let’s read Isaiah 43:1—3 (NLT ): Do not be afraid,
for I have ransomed you. I have called you by my
name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters
and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go
through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will
not be burned up; The flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel,
your Savior.
When you pass through rivers of difficulty and fire of
oppression, know you’re on the right course. God says,
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
—Erwin and Jean Bourne