There’s something comforting about a nice campfire. It’s warm, it makes me feel safe, and I love to watch the different colors of the flames. Yet out-of-control fires can be terrifying.
I’ve seen the aftermath of fires, I’ve watched buildings burn, fought grass fires that threatened to get out of control, and seen the night sky lit up by dangerously close forest fires. I’ve even known the horror of seeing a person on fire. None of those brought me the comfort of my little campfire.
Fire is a strange beast. It has been one of man’s greatest helpers, providing heat, light, enabling the forging of metal and steam power, but it can kill and destroy without warning if we’re not careful.
Some people are fascinated by fire. Others are terrified by it. I understand both perspectives as I’ve been in both places.
Our God is like a fire, but never out of control. He can be terrifying to those who will face His wrath and comforting to those who know His love and forgiveness. God’s wrath is not like that of an angry, spiteful, spoiled child out of control.
His anger is the righteous anger of a Holy God, directed at those who rebel against Him and reject His offer of love and forgiveness. He is patient in exercising His wrath, or we all would have been destroyed long ago. Both His love and His wrath burn with incredible intensity.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV
We should never be fooled into thinking that God is always like our pleasant little campfire. He’s also the power of the raging forest fire, all the burning suns put together, and more, never out of control. His wrath will come for those who don’t believe. His wrath was for us as well until we came to know Him.
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:35-36 ESV
No one is born a Christian. We all become one by conversion. We move from death to life as a result of Christ’s sacrifice. We’ve been saved from the wrath of God by the grace of God. That knowledge should create in us a burning desire, an internal, eternal fire to share the truth with other people. It compels us to tell others to save them from the wrath that will come.
And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23 ESV
Until next time, may you be a burning torch of light and rescue in a dark, hurting, and ultimately doomed world. Let your fire for Christ burn brightly so that all can have the opportunity to be saved from the wrath.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed,
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
