There’s something special about fire.
Argued to be the greatest human invention of all time, fire can be traced back before any of our technological marvels. Before the wheel, paper, electricity, or gunpowder, there was fire.
- Fire was what opened the way to cooking, providing for us the nutrients that we needed from food.
- Fire gave us warmth, during cold and harsh winter days.
- Fire gave us light, in a time before we could flip a switch or clap our hands for relief from the dark.
Personally, I also think fire can be linked to people:
- When people are passionate about something, it’s like a fire is going on inside them, burning and hot — spurring them on to do incredible things.
- When someone is “burnt out” and loses motivation, it’s as if they lost the fire they once had, because for one reason or another — it died out.
- When a person is cold, dampened, or icy, it’s as if they refuse to catch fire, and even hinder the flames of others when brought near — such a person provides no warm to others; no help of provision; no light of guidance. Most people would prefer to stay away.
- In an extraordinary or spectacular event, a life can be can changed when a spark is ignited, and a person’s life direction is changed entirely. A fire can be born from where there was none before.
- A fiery person or community, passionate and devoted to something, often spurs on others – either by spreading that fire, or increasing the intensity of the surrounding flames — just like when two matches are held together.
Next and most importantly, fire is mentioned extensively throughout the Bible:
Our God is a consuming fire — Hebrews 12:29
Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. — Exodus 19:18
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. — Matthew 3:11
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49
“They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32
”I am reminded of your sincere faith… For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God” — 2 Timothy 1:5–6
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return — Luke 12:35
“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. “ — 1 Corinthians 3:13
And many more… like the burning bush, the pillar of fire to guide Israel, tongues of fire during the Pentecost…etc.
Saints of the Burning Heart
I’ve thought a lot about the theme of fire over the years (maybe you’ve caught me staring at the campfire during retreat). The symbolism. The imagery. The characteristics. God made fire special — perhaps to teach us something about the Christian walk.
The great Christians of old all had something in common. Each of them could be described the same way. They were “on fire for God.” Within them, a divine spark had struck, and a flame had been born. Not just any old flame, quickly doused by the passage of time or snuffed out by the weakening of emotions, but a true spiritual fire.
This was a fire that would stand the test of worldly circumstances. It purified and refined its bearer, burning away all the temporal chaff and left behind only the eternal and enduring. Saints with this kind of fire showed it through their single-minded focus and dedicated pursuit of heavenly things, even at great worldly costs. It led them to give up their life here on earth, with all its pleasures and comforts, and to even joyfully choose death for the glory of their Master.
This spiritual fire, also by nature, would be kept aflame until the return of its King. He was the reason for why it burned in the first place. It would swelter with intensity at His approach; it would long for His arrival. At His very words, an inferno would broil within the human heart, leaving lasting changes within.
Something about these burning-hearted saints was special, too. The fire within them was not a flickering candle or some weak kindling, but a blazing torch. There was a radiance to them — a light that shone in the dark, illuminating the path ahead for those around them. This light cast out darkness wherever it went and brought hope to those who saw it. There was also a heat that came alongside it — a hotness that was scorching enough to burn its enemies, but at the same time acting as a source of warmth to its friends.
Thinking about this kind of person, I’ve repeatedly thought to myself, “I want to be that way. I want a fire for God like that.”
Burn in Me, Fire of God
In the short few years that I’ve walked with God, there’s been a battle that I have been fighting every single day.
If we want to continue this analogy with fire, representing a divinely sourced love for God, then here was my biggest challenge. My problem has always been to keep the fire burning brightly for Him.
“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out” — Leviticus 6:12
So quickly and so often, at the start of almost every day, I’ve noticed that yesterday’s fire doesn’t carry into today’s flames. My heart is prone to wander. My love grows cold. Over time and without active intervention, the fight is an uphill battle. It’s almost as if the fire that was given to me needed babysitting.
“He shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar… and carry the ashes outside the camp” — Leviticus 6:10–11
Slowly I realized that in this cold world, keeping a fire going was hard work. Just like how the priests in Leviticus were instructed to maintain the fire on the altar of sacrifice, I also needed constantly maintain the fire in my heart.
“The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings” — Leviticus 6:12
A fire that is not hot enough will not work. Sacrifices need to be made, and for that to happen, the altar needs to be hot. Lukewarm isn’t good enough. Proper wood needed to be prepared each day; I needed the right amount and quality of fuel to keep me going. Wet or moist branches weren’t going to cut it.
I also needed to clean out the ashes every morning; sins needed to be confessed and idols needed to be thrown out. Leaving ashes there would clog up the airflow and smother my flames.
”Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?“ Jeremiah 23:29
Every day, I needed Him. First to warm my heart from its ever cooling state, but to also break up the hardness that has built up to turn it soft and tender. If this didn’t happen, I wouldn’t be fit for sacrifice. When the trials came and opportunities arose, I couldn’t act as the living sacrifice that would be pleasing to God if my fire was not ready.
If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. — Jeremiah 20:9
In the times when my fire was ready and ablaze, then I knew I was ready for the real work of God. The flames overflowed and poured out when the situation called for it. It was like I couldn’t hold it back even if it tried to. I just had to do what needed to be done — God deserved the glory. He was worthy of nothing less.
The Song of Spiritual Flame
This is what I think the work of the servant of God looks like. We’re torchbearers, entrusted with a flame. This flame burns and refines, leading us both to do great works for Him, and also to personally become more befitting of Him. The fire is from Him, belongs to Him, and burns for Him. In the end, it’s all about Him, and all for Him. He is the source of our fire, the one who started a spark in us, and the one who will keep us aflame until the day He comes in glorious fire.
“We wait for the blessed hope — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” — Titus 2:13–14
“waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. — 2 Peter 3:12–13
How can my heart burn any less
When only more does my creator bless
How could I turn back again or stall
When to Him I’ve surrendered my all
To have steadfast love for my King
I would forsake any other thing
