Sometimes I ask myself why the world has seen so many devastating
fires in 2007; from our beloved South Africa to more sophisticated Europe and the USA.
Tuesday's events at Kwabadala, the old age home in Nkandla, Northern
Zululand, shocked and saddened South Africans. A raging fire whose cause is yet to
established demolished a building in which old people were housed, taking with it 12
lives.
From what we hear it must have been a horrible scene. Imagine smoke and fire
in a building where some old people can hardly move on their own. Worse still, those that
did get to the doors found that the doors were locked. It must have been a burning hell!
The million dollar question is, "Where were the carers?" Well, an investigation
is underway to get to the root of what happened.
What about fire-fighters? Unfortunately, they had a long distance to travel,
so by the time they got there were only pieces to pick up.
Obviously, whatever system was there failed the old people. In the aftermath
of the tragic incident there is much soul-searching even in government circles. An
international conglomerate donated R1 million on the spot towards the improvement of the
infrastructure and facilities. More contributions are pouring in.
Back to the 'burning hell.' That reminded of the film 'Burning Hell' which
was mainly the initiative of Rev Estus Pirkle of Myrtle, Mississippi, USA. How the modern
humanistic mind loves to hate such films. 'Hell, fire and brimstone' preachers are often
objects of mockery; seldom do they make it to the shortlist of popular guest preachers.
Somehow I think that our generation prides itself not only on
sending aestronauts to the moon and venturing various spectacular explorations in
space but they would seem to believe that they have also sent fire-fighters to hell. No
wonder that Rock and Pop stars present hell as a 'cool' place.
Dare we forget that it was not a prophet, an apostle or an extreme preacher
but our Lord Himself who described hell as the place where "the worm dieth not and
the fire is not quenched?" (Mark 9:44) If anyone should know, then it is He.
Finally, could the 2007 fires be a warning to the world that it is in
for a rude awakening - a universal inferno from which no amount of fire-fighters will save
it?
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be
burned up." (2 Peter 3:10)
Have a blessed weekend.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
