Where the Fire has Been
StoryIllustrationAnalogy★★★★An old preacher in England, who had lived on the American prairies in his youth, was involved in street corner evangelism in the small towns and villages. He attracted an audience with his wild-West stories describing how the Indians had saved their wigwams from prairie fires by setting fire to the dry grass adjoining their settlement. “The fire cannot come,” he explained, “where the fire has already been.
That is why I call you to the cross of Christ.” He continued his graphic analogy by explaining, “Judgment has already fallen and can never come again!” The one who takes his stand at the Cross is saved forevermore. He can never come into condemnation, for he is standing where the fire has been.
The saved person is in God’s safety zone, cleansed by the blood of Christ.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills, 201.
The point
An old preacher likens the safety of standing at the cross to how prairie fires cannot burn ground where fire has already passed, teaching that judgment has already fallen on Christ so believers can never come into condemnation.