We must have God’s grace to live. Without it we die. Elijah saw fire fall from heaven when he depended on God’s grace and the prophets of Baal defied God. Lot begged for God’s grace on five righteous men of Sodom. When the men could not be found, God’s grace was removed and fire destroyed the city.

We rejoice that God’s grace has spared the cities of Southern California. No lives have been lost because of fire. Many homes have been burned. People with much and people with little have seen their homes and possessions destroyed. Righteous believers and wicked scoffers have lost their homes. God’s grace was withheld for moments and this destruction took place. We all felt the effect and we were all reminded of our need for God’s grace.

Our governor has made a choice to defile marriage by supporting attempts to overturn Prop 8. The LA supervisors have been even more vocal and are choosing to defile marriage by joining in these lawsuits. The mayor of LA is choosing to defile marriage by his words, actions, and presence at anti-8 demonstrations. Some celebrities in Montecito support the defilement of marriage. On Saturday anti-8 demonstrations in support of unholy marriage were promoted throughout the country. Many of them were held in the cities Southern California.

Marriage is one of the symbols of purity God uses to explain how he wants us to know him. He cherishes the purity of his love for us when he calls the Church the Bride of Christ. He prepares for the time when we will be welcomed into his presence and share the marriage supper of the Lamb of God. His sacrificial love is demonstrated in stories of the lives of His people. However, marriage can be defiled and unholy.

Some chose to demonstrate their own choices and defile marriage on Saturday. Is it any wonder that God would remove his grace for a time? Saturday’s high temperatures set records. God touched Los Angeles and reminded us that it can get hot when his grace is removed, even for a moment. The destruction of this fire was among the greatest ever, yet no one died as a result of fire alone. God reminded his people that we need his grace every day.

Few who defile marriage will see their choices in light of these fires. They do not depend on God’s grace, even though they receive it. In the midst of the city and county declarations of emergency, it was business as usual for anti-8 demonstrators. Unlike blacks in the South, or Latinos in California, anti-8 demonstrators will stomp the cross, and blockade churches. They are not like other demonstrators who constantly showed respect for God and religious institutions, while challenging our government to give them civil rights. The LGBT faction show disrespect for the needs of all but themselves. They demand attention when others are fighting for their lives. They invite destruction and ignore grace.

I believe we all need to have a clear understanding of holiness. Without vision the people perish. Holiness is the issue. God’s grace has been withheld because of the choices our government leaders have made to support the defilement of marriage. I trust we can speak the words of God and remind those to whom we minister of God’s desire for holiness.