Through the Fire

In 1962, a garbage dump fire spread to an open vein of coal. At first, local authorities hoped it would just burn itself out. There were roads to pave, schools to build, parks to name. They reasoned that it wouldn't be able to maintain itself underground, and the problem would just solve itself.
Others believed that action was required to save their community from an impending threat, but no one wanted to spend the time and money to fight an enemy they didn't really believe in.
Time passed, and out of sight quickly became out of mind for most people. When they were warned of the danger, many refused to believe the fire was still burning. They would look at the cost of thousands of dollars, shake their heads, and go on about their business. Until the monster broke through.
Poisonous gases from the ongoing underground fire began to seep up into the water table – and basements. Underground vacancies left when coal was consumed began to collapse, taking roads and houses into the depths. Finger pointing and lawsuits followed, but no solution could be found. Centralia, Pennsylvania was no longer a safe place to live, and the federal government began to foreclose homes and businesses, forcing out life-long residents. $42 million dollars was spent (not counting attorneys fees) buying those properties, yet the fight still goes on. There are still (in 2010) a handful of holdouts, squatting in homes they no longer own, watching the end of their town.
There were plenty of warnings. In the beginning there were options and solutions, but a point of no return was reached, and after that, all that they had built was lost to the fire.
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

Be sure what you are investing in can come through THIS fire!