I was startled in the middle of the night by someone banging and yelling at my front door. Groggy and half asleep, I stumbled down the steps to see my next-door neighbor, Mandy, frantically yelling, “Your house is on fire! Your house is on fire!” She was pointing at the window directly behind me, and I slowly turned around to see my storage building through my kitchen window engulfed in flames.
ClampMy wife, Leisa, came down the stairs, screamed, rushed back upstairs to awaken my young boys, and then hurried them out of the house. I thought this to be a bit comical and said, “Honey, why are you going outside? That’s where the fire is.” She didn’t laugh. I called 911, but Mandy had already called. As I walked outside, I noticed embers falling from the sky as the raging inferno rose 20 feet into the starry night sky. It was then I realized that if she had not awakened us, our home could have easily caught on fire.
The cavalry rode in on shiny red trucks. They were disappointed it was only a shed fire and methodically began to put it out. I stood talking to one of the firefighters and he told me that before Mandy called there was another neighbor who phoned the fire department directly.
The neighbor said that someone’s house was on fire in their neighborhood but they didn’t know the address. The fireman said to hang up and call 911 and give them their address, which would at least get them within sight of the fire. Then the neighbor said something that will send a chill down your spine. They said, “I don’t want to get involved.” Startled, the fireman said, “You can be anonymous. Just let us know what street you live on.” The individual said, “I’m still not sure I want to get involved.” It was at that moment that the tone sounded from Mandy’s 911 call and the firefighter hung up on the previous call.
Can you believe that? How could anyone see their neighbor in imminent danger and not get involved? I know what you are thinking. “I would never do that.” Really?
Do you know the spiritual condition of the neighbors on either side of you and down the street? What about the individual next to you at work? You may have invited them to church, but have you started the conversation with them about Jesus? Has it been 10 years and you are still waiting for the right timing? They may be in imminent danger for eternity and yet you still haven’t gotten involved. They are your responsibility. Stop reading about Baptist life and go start the conversation! Get involved!
– Clamp is evangelism group director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Follow Lee on twitter @leeclamp or on his blog at www.leeclamp.com.