“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it . . . . . ”
Ezekiel 22: 30

I am married to a man who wears many hats . . . . . all of them well. For 25 of our 29 years together, one of those hats has been a reflective, bright red helmet. He had it on the other night when he rescued a 12-month-old baby boy from a burning house. He was wearing it as he comforted his rookie hoseman who had carried the little boy’s 2 1/2-year-old sister out of the same heat, smoke and fire enveloped home. She did not survive. It was hanging on its hook, when a few hours later he sat with his co-workers and shared with them how his faith in God had never failed to hold him up and carry him through such incidents. Allen is a firefighter. To his community, he is a symbol of compassion and courage. To his superiors, he is an individual of faithful integrity. To his men, he is the Captain they can trust with their lives. To us here at home, he is a hero . . . . . our hero!

Like many of the fathers who are leading their families down the “agrarian path” – intent on living a more biblical life – Allen holds a job outside his home. He is a member of the remnant few who has been called to be part of a transitional generation. A small group of men being made ready to make up a hedge and stand in the gap for the protection and preservation of the godly seed that are following in their stead. To heed such a call requires faith, vision and tireless perseverance . . . . . but it also requires preparation.

Allen has never regarded his work as a firefighter to be an obstacle to God’s perfect plan for his life. Rather, he has seen it as God’s providential hand in preparing him for all that lies ahead.

allen-in-alley.jpgTo build a multi-generational legacy you must be willing to lead a sacrificial life. You must be willing to risk your own safety and security for that of others. You must be willing to enter into dangerous, dirty, often unstable situations so you can lead others out of darkness and into light. You must learn to labor diligently with those who are working by your side. You must be loyal. You must have courage. You must learn reliance, trust, and mutual respect and have deep concern for the welfare of others. Every shift day I watch and wonder as my husband willingly leaves hearth and home to do just this. Like the men of old he steps out in faith, confident that, He which hath begun a good work, will perform it (Phil. 1: 6). Trusting with full assurance that as he waits on the Lord and keeps His way, that God will exalt him to inherit the land (Ps. 37: 34). Proclaiming confidently his steadfast belief in the promise that the righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein for ever (Ps. 37: 29).

Any man who is willing to do this – is a hero. And if you are married to such a man, as am I, it is probably high time you told him so – and told his children as well!

Janis

Recommended Reading~ Hebrews 11 – The Bible