FIRE!

This is a fire we had to get rid of some old decking this summer. The second photo is taken with the fire behind me of our barns to show how much light the fire was giving off. It really was dark at the time of the fire...

When God lead Israel out of Egypt, at night His Presence with them was fire to give them light

We don't like to talk often about God's judgement, we like to talk about His love, His protection, His gifts, His help, etc...and we should, but the "other side" of His Goodness (if I can use the image of Him having a "side") is His wrath...

In my daily reading, I keep seeing the word "fire". Jeremiah is warning of the coming judgement on the sin of God's people. God uses fire for punishment, in order to bring destruction on Israel. At the same time, in Thesselonians, Paul is talking about the last days...the judgement coming on the whole earth. Look at these passages: (all bold and italicized~by me)

Jeremiah 21:14 I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forests that will consume everything around you.' "

Leviticus 10:2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

2 Thess 1:6-10 This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

2 Peter 3:10-12.But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[a]That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:27-29 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."

Last Wednesday, we watched Louis Giglio's "Indescribable" dvd. In it, he described creation by God as an incredible fiery force coming from His mouth as He spoke the light into existence, based on the speed of light...Louis said he laughs when people say they wish they were there!

What exists that cannot be destroyed or consumed by fire? The things that come to mind are...

1. Fire. (light)

2. Treasure. (ie gold, silver, precious metals...)

2 Corinthians 4:6,7 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

The above passage reminds me of Gideon's army. God gave them victory when they broke their clay jars that had torches inside. The enemy fell at the sound of the trumpet and the breaking of jars to reveal the fire...We believers have the victory over our enemy!

The Lord makes it clear that He is coming back in all of His Glory (which I imagine to be fiery!). For those of us who have made Christ our treasure, who have received His gift of salvation, and live holy lives (lives set apart to Him, lived for His glory in obedience and purity...walking in repentance, who have their treasure in heaven and not on this earth) to those who have this eternal fiery treasure in our clay bodies...we will not be consumed:

Lamentations 3:21-23

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Children of God have His fire inside and will not be consumed when the fire from God falls...Glory Glory! This should humble us and give us a renewed awe at the love of Christ in His enduring the cross (absorbing the fiery wrath of God) on our behalf. Halleluiah!