The Heart

Perhaps most of the audience reading this are my brothers and sisters in public service, particularly those working in fire departments. By no means do I want to diminish the work we do or oversimplify it. Nor do I intend to glorify our work to make grandiose statements about the heroics of our job. However, there are aspects of our profession that step outside what is considered normal in society. Police officers run toward flying bullets, paramedics and EMTs rush toward the sick and dying, and firefighters enter burning buildings. While the principles stem from the same place, tonight I will speak from the perspective of a firefighter, as that is the language I speak.

Where does that desire come from? How do we, as first responders, have the confidence to move toward danger, discomfort, and disease? Ultimately, I see it as stemming from two major elements: heart and faith. A heart dedicated to service, duty, and sacrifice—a desire to do what is necessary to protect and save lives. The other element is faith: faith in our gear, equipment, and training; faith in our brothers and sisters working alongside us; and faith in God’s protection.

We all started with training. We spent countless hours studying, drilling, practicing, and perfecting our craft—most of the time even before we began our careers. Once we were hired and started our jobs, we were equipped with the tools and gear needed to keep us safe and successful.

As a firefighter, my essential equipment is my turnout gear. For those readers who may not know, or didn’t have a “friendly firefighter” presentation in kindergarten, turnouts are the protective clothing worn by firefighters when responding to fires. They consist of a three-layer system made of Nomex and Kevlar that protects against heat, flames, and punctures. This gear includes a helmet and an SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus), which is an air tank and mask that provides protection from smoke in a fire. Turnouts can withstand temperatures up to 1600 degrees.

Rarely do any of the three disciplines—firefighting, EMS, and law enforcement—work alone. We have our partners and crews. In my department, there are always at least three people on every fire engine. At a structure fire, there is a minimum of three engines and a ladder truck, with that number increasing depending on the severity of the fire. One crew is always designated as the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT), prepared to rescue firefighters who may become trapped or injured. Additionally, there are police officers, paramedics, and other command and support staff.

Having the confidence to enter a house filled with smoke and flames shooting out the front door is greatly enhanced by faith in our training, the best protective gear, a hose-line to extinguish the fire, our crew by our side, other fire crews working toward the same goal, RIT on standby, a Chief making tactical decisions, a safety officer monitoring conditions, and paramedics ready to provide emergency medical care. While having all of these resources is crucial, it is only one side of the coin; there must be a genuine desire to act.

That desire comes from a heart of service. For every firefighter, paramedic, and police officer, the reason behind that desire is unique, but ultimately originates from the same place: the heart. It is a desire to sacrifice for others, marked by an empathetic dedication and compassion for the public, often in their greatest time of need. It takes a level of courage and selflessness to stand in harm's way.

Ultimately, no matter how much training someone has, how good their gear is, or how many people are on scene, if they lack the heart for it, they will never willingly walk into the building. It could also be said that if they don’t possess a servant's heart, they would never engage in the training or wear the gear in the first place. But watch out for imposters.

God requires the same from us. He seeks both faith and heart. Faith, or at least the appearance of it, is easy. We can profess and believe that God is in control of our circumstances. We can trust that He will heal our sickness, restore our relationships, provide for our finances, and grant us the jobs we seek. However, unless He has our hearts, we are merely individuals dressed in turnouts outside a burning house, unwilling to enter. We can attend church on Sundays, post inspirational Bible verses on social media, and listen to worship music on the way to work, yet still fail to see God’s hand at work. He examines the condition of our hearts.

The Bible speaks extensively about the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Despite the inspirational phrase “follow your heart,” our hearts lead us to sin. Immediately following this, God says, “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” What God seeks is for us to align our hearts with Him and His will. He desires us to “guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it.” When we ask and believe for certain things, God examines the motives behind our requests. Do they serve and glorify Him, or only fulfill our own desires? God does heal the sick, mend relationships, and provide for our needs, but only in accordance with His will. He sees the intentions of our hearts, and we cannot hide them from Him.

A firefighter will never have the opportunity to serve if their motivation is solely for personal gain. If they lack the heart for it, even if they claim otherwise, their deceit will quickly become evident. Some people simply want the attention that comes with the T-shirt

To wrap this up, I’ll leave you with 1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” With faith and a heart aligned with His will, He grants us the desires we seek.