First, it has been a while since I've been here. I thoroughly plan to change that. Just want a place to post my thoughts and blatherings. A lot has changed in my life recently. I went from having my entire future planned to having seemingly nothing. I went from having someone in my life that I truly cared about and loved to being alone. I went from having a purpose to really not knowing what is next. God has been doing a lot. I know He does things for a reason; some of those I'm beginning to see. I'm looking forward to what's next.
That having been said; God gave me some thought recently on fire. What does it mean for a Christian or a group of Christians to be "on fire?" Fire to me before has always indicated life...something burning. True, it is something burning, but with fire, most often it involves something being destroyed. Think about it a minute, a house fire, or a car fire. Something is being consumed. Perhaps true fire from Christ in our lives involves something of us being consumed. Perhaps it is something wrong that needs to be purged, or perhaps it is something that stands in the way of Christ's further working in our life. Fire also involves conversion. It's actually the scientific process whereby physical mass is converted into heat energy. Likewise, with fire from Christ, are we not being converted to something greater?
In the Old Testament, fire was used to consume the sacrifices. Fire was used to purify metals. Hmmm, are we really on fire today?
And, what about the source of fire. Fire comes from one of several places. True, it can come from other fire. But, it always has to have a source. Fire comes from either friction or heat. When using a match, it is the friction of the surface vs. the phosphorous of the match that sparks the flame. In a lighter, it is the flint rubbing the striker that provides the ignition to the gas. Fire can come about a third way; intense heat. Scientific studies show that it is possible to apply such intense heat to items that they explode into flame. So, we deduce that all fire comes from intense friction or intense heat.
Some cool things about fire: it provides light. God's fire in the lives of His followers provides light to a darkened world. Fire also spreads. When burning something, wood, leaves, etc., it is always necessary to clear around the pile. Why? To keep the fire contained. True Christian fire will spread; it needs merely to begin. And, fire will always change things. It always leaves things different than it was.
So, are we on fire? Are we willing to experience what it takes to get that way, are we willing to be used of God to start a fire? Are we willing to be consumed? Are we willing to be converted? What will it take for true fire to begin again? History shows that fire has begun for a number of reasons, most of which is intense persecution. What will it take for us to be consumed with a Godly fire that will change and make things different? Am I willing to be the first?
