Divine Tool #5: The Fire Extinguisher

What are Divine Tools?

Divine tools are 100% available to any Christian, at any time. Regular use of these tools transforms our character. We become more like our Master, Jesus. Yet many believers never pick up and use the divine tools God has given us.

Why?

Simply because each one is cleverly disguised as a command. Rebellious or lazy believers refuse to obey the Lord. So their life remains a mess.

The Earliest Fire Extinguisher

In 1723 a German chemist named Ambrose Godfrey in England created the first patented fire extinguisher, developing a unique way to put out fires. The cask of liquid had a small pewter chamber containing gunpowder. Lighting the fuse caused a tiny explosion, scattering the liquid and hopefully dosing the flames.

Almost a century later, in 1818, British Captain George William Manby created a portable extinguisher, made of copper. It was filled with three gallons of potassium carbonate, pressurized with compressed air.

Later Fire Extinguisher Advances

In 1904, Aleksandr Loran, a Russian engineer, created an extinguisher which discharged a firefighting foam. His invention was particularly effective in fighting oil fires.

By the 1920s, more homes and businesses began using electricity. But electric devices like switchboards, can catch fire. So in 1924, the Walter Kidde Company invented a Carbon Dioxide fire extinguisher. When discharged, the CO2 left no chemical residue. It was also non-conductive, so it never damaged the electric equipment. Lastly, this gas got harmlessly absorbed into the atmosphere.

Today, CO2 fire extinguishers are still used to put out electrical fires, especially on sensitive equipment such as computers and in server rooms.

My Spiritual Point

Fire Extinguishers put out fires.

Sincerely apologizing puts out fires too. Admitting when you’re wrong is a humbling thing to do. But it heals relationships. Humility is Jesus’ least copied virtue. Strangely, it’s also the most freeing.

I’m not talking about being a doormat, or always taking all the blame for every argument. But after calming down a little, can we go to someone we love and say, “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

Because when we don’t, the damage just deepens.

I will share one more tip, because it’s changed my life. I no longer endlessly replay the the injury in my mind. Instead I take that string of thoughts captive and start praying in a good way for the other person.

It keeps the poison out of my soul.

I downloaded these images from Pixabay.com.