What a Firefighter Does
On Wednesday
night, April 17, 2013, a massive explosion occurred at a fertilizer
plant in the small town of West, Texas that shook the ground with the
strength of a small earthquake and leveled several homes and businesses
for blocks in every direction.
The blast killed 14 people and injured more than 160 others.
Most of the victims were first responders from fire departments in West
and other nearby towns that were at the fertilizer plant trying to put
out the fire that preceded the explosion.
With help from relatives, friends and obituaries, The Associated Press
compiled vignettes of some of the 14 victims who died in the blast.
Among the victims were “a grandmother, a town secretary, a fire truck
builder, a town festival organizer, fishing enthusiasts, hunters,
fathers, men preparing to become emergency medical technicians, devoted
church and local organization members, and yes, firefighters.
One of the firefighters that was killed in the blast wasn’t a member of
the West
Volunteer Fire Department; he was in his 32nd year of working as a
firefighter for the city of Dallas. Dallas Fire-Rescue Capt. Kenneth
Harris, 52, was off-duty when the fire that caused the West Fertilizer
explosion happened, but he still rushed to the scene to offer his help
to other firefighters responding to the emergency.
"Captain Harris' response is typical of all our first responders; night
and day, no matter where they are, no matter if they are on or off duty,
they respond with the greatest acts of bravery," Dallas City Manager
Mary K. Suhm said in a statement.
Even though Kenneth Harris was off-duty, he fought the fire in West,
because that is what firefighters do. He died trying to help other
firefighters save their community from a destructive force.
Speaking of His own mission, Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come
to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
Jesus, the Son of God, came to this world to save us from sin’s
destruction (Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 6:23). He would give His life in
order to fulfill this mission, for only the death of the sinless Son of
God could pay the price for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus has paid the price for our salvation (Ephesians 1:7). He DIED so
that we might LIVE (1 Thessalonians 5:10). He will save those who accept
His offer on His terms by placing their
faith
and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in
repentance
(Acts 17:30-31),
confessing
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being
baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
Jesus
died on the cross to save us from our sins because that is what a
SAVIOR does!
Won’t
YOU accept His offer of salvation and
eternal life?
David A. Sargent, Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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