Consuming Fire

"For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  -1 Corinthians 1:13

A fire, as in this wood stove, serves many purposes.  It provides heat, can be used for cooking, and also is lovely to look at.  Who doesn't enjoy sitting by the fire on a cold, dark evening, feeling its warmth, listening to the crackling and hissing the wood makes as it burns, watching the flames flicker around the logs, lighting up the darkness surrounding you.

But fire has another side to it--its power to destroy.  The Bible speaks of things being burned up in a consuming fire sent by God.  Jesus says, "As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.  The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.  And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears, let him hear." (see parable of the weeds:  Matthew 13:36-43)

I am grateful that I heard the salvation message when I was a child when my heart was still open to receiving God's call to come to Him.  By His Holy Spirit I have been empowered to resist many temptations that would have led me down a path of "lawlessness."  It has been by His grace that I enjoy a life filled with peace and love and a future in His heavenly kingdom.  Praise be to God!