Thought for the Month - March 2018

"Will Grigg’s on fire" by Barry Adair

I need to tell you first that I'm a Northern Ireland football fan. It's not an act of confession, but is obviously related to the title of this month's Thought. I say obviously, but when I think about it, to some it may not be, but please read on anyway…

Northern Ireland have a footballer who became well known to football supporters all across Europe during Euro 2016 in France. This was mainly due to the Northern Ireland fans' rendition of the "Will Grigg's on fire" chant, about Will Grigg obviously. In fact Will didn't get a game for Northern Ireland during the whole campaign, and as the Northern Ireland Manager Michael O'Neill said about him at the time - "He must be on fire, because we haven't put him out yet!"

I thought about Will Grigg and Michael O'Neill's quote after reading about a church in the small town of Centralia in Pennsylvania, USA. This is coal mining country and back in 1962 one of the many underground coal seams running below Centralia managed to catch fire. Now, probably like you, I was thinking that, well, you just put the fire out. But $7 million and over 55 years later, it seems that, from below, Centralia is still on fire. Simply put, Centralia is on fire because they haven't put it out yet!

Back in the day, Centralia was a thriving town of over 1000 souls. But on 27 May 1962 everything changed forever. A fire spread from a surface mine to underground coal seams, and it just kept burning. As Pennsylvania State concluded that the fire could burn for more than 100 years, a $42 million package was agreed to relocate the residents. Today there are only 6 remaining!

The BBC webpage where I first read about Centralia focused on the town's last remaining church, the white blue-domed Ukrainian Church. Whereas most remaining buildings are empty and dilapidated, Centralia's Ukrainian Church is bucking the trend. Although most of the residents long since moved on, many return each Sunday to the blue-domed church on the hill. Although over 100 years old, the church is kept looking sprightly by the congregation and church oversight.

There used to be 5 churches in Centralia but one by one they all closed, all bar the Ukrainian church. It looked at one point that Centralia Ukrainian would follow suit too. However, as the State oversaw the clearance of Centralia, the church arranged for a geological survey underneath the hillside church. So they drilled down as far as they needed to, and rather than finding burning coals, they hit solid rock!

Jesus told a very simple parable about where a wise man chose to build his house…

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock…" (Matthew 7: 24-25)

If our lives are to withstand the storms of life, and yes, even the fires from below, then we too need to be on a firm foundation. You may also remember these words from Jesus…

"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." (Matthew 16:18)

Jesus was not saying that He would build His church on the personality of Peter or on Peter's successors but that He would build it on the divine revelation and profession of faith in Christ. The true church of the Lord Jesus Christ would be built on Himself, something Peter would have fully understood. And on this Rock even the fires of Hades would not be able to overpower it.

Today the church in Centralia keeps watch over the town, it's just that it is watching over a dying town. A church in a place with no people needs deep, strong foundations.

Today the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ is salt and light to a dying world. And this true church is in a world where many have built their lives on weak and ineffectual foundations.

Jesus Christ is our Rock.
We need to build our lives on Him and on Him alone!

My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62: 1-2)

Ascribe greatness to our God the Rock,
His work is perfect
And all His ways are just
A God of faithfulness and, without injustice
Good and upright is He!

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!