The Judgement At Eagle Creek

~Eagle Creek trail burns on September 4th 2017~

~Eagle Creek hike July 2016~

14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5: 14 - 19 NKJV

The local news this week has been full of wall to wall coverage of one of the largest wildfires in the country.  The Eagle Creek wildfire in Oregons Columbia River gorge has to date grown to a size of 33, 300 acres as it burns its way through some of the most picturesque forest land in the country.  I remember hiking this same Eagle Creek trail with Dennis just last summer as we hiked into Punchbowl falls.  Although I'm rarely one to use flowery speech to describe too many of my experiences, I will admit that the forest land of my home state are something to behold.  Only time will tell when these iconic trails will return to the splendor so many people have so often enjoyed.  One story which has been lost in all of the coverage of this tragic fire is the story of just how the blaze originally was sparked.  From news reports, a young 15 year old local lad was seen to have been fooling around with a few illegal fireworks somewhere up the Eagle Creek trail the weekend of September 2nd.  For anyone who is familiar with normal summer conditions here in the Pacific Northwest, this is beyond foolish.  For depending on the previous winters rainfall, many areas in our forests will be a flashpoint that even the smallest spark of a passing train or car will spark. So it was with the Eagle Creek blaze.  For in the span of a few hours, our famous east winds had fanned the flames into a major fire.  In the span of 12 hours, the fire grew 12,000 acres as it moved further east.  Evacuation orders were issued from Troutdale to Cascade Locks and Interstate 84 to this point remains closed from Troutdale to Hood River.  All from one careless moment and some fireworks.  Already I can hear the drums of retribution beating in local opinion and radio talk shows.  Somewhere along the line, this 15 year old kid needs to pay for this destruction he has caused!  One thing I'm damn glad for is that this crowd of torch bearers of revenge wasn't around whenever I messed up in my life.

3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2: 3 - 8 NKJV

Now, before I get into some hypocritical rant that many feel is typical of we high and mighty christians I want to mention that there is a huge difference between revenge and responsibility.  Oh, and consequences, yes consequences.  The apostle Paul Himself explains to us in 2 Corinthians that we are to judge no one by the flesh any longer.  Christ Jesus has also taught us on the value of love and forgiveness {Matthew 7:5}.  How can I, Scott, proclaim the love and forgiveness of Christ if my own heart is set upon that retribution for the actions of another?  This is the very model of hypocracy for which we are all too often criticized.  For if our heavenly Father has loved us, so must we love one another {1 John 4:11}.  Trust me, I have made enough mistakes in my lifetime to warrant revenge from countless victims and those I've offended.  Does this change the man I truly am in Christ {Galations 2:20}?  Absolutely not, for even though I am now dead to those sins which once plagued me, it is Christ who has now declared me clean {Romans 6: 6-11}.  Not only that, it is Jesus Himself who has declared ALL who beleive in Him righteous and forgiven.  So, who am I to condemn one who Christ has proclaimed forgiven?  Who are we to pass judgement upon one who belongs to the Spirit of Christ?  We as christians do not have a corner on the market of the indwelling Christ.  It is He who has given Himself for all {2 Corinthisns 5:21}.  Now, as I mentioned, there is no thin gray line between retribution and those consequences for our own actions.  Yes, Christ has not only declared us forgiven and forever His, but we still need face the those consequences for what we have done.  What is painfully obvious to me is that in the midst of the flames of the Eagle Creek fire is what must be a confused and hurting 15 year old.  We may not know what weighs heavy on this lads heart, but just as he faces the consquences of his actions...we face those of our own.

20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
1 John 4: 20 - 21 NKJV

~Scott~