Consuming Fire

Consuming Fire

Through the years, I’ve witnessed first-hand how absolutely devastating a consuming fire can be. From a car accident that ignited a fire so intense and destructive it melted the car, resulting in third degree burns to over fifty percent of the driver’s body, to a home turned to ash and rubble after being struck by lightning.

Let me just say, none of this was pretty. Because of these events, and probably for other unknown reasons, I’ve been hesitant to embrace the thought that God is a consuming fire as scripture states.

God is a Consuming Fire

The first time I read the words in Hebrews telling us that God is a consuming fire, I shuddered. The first time I watched the Christian singing group Third Day’s rather apocalyptic video, Consuming Fire, it troubled me.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

Yes. I sang Refiner’s Fire at church along with everyone else in the day. Sure, I want to be holy, set apart for God’s use like the song suggests. Don’t all of us who call ourselves followers of Christ want that?

I long to be a clean vessel God can use. Like David wrote in the psalms, I desire for God to create in me a clean heart. But does it have to be through the refiner’s fire? Couldn’t I just be scrubbed clean with soap, or something?

 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 1 Corinthians 3:13

Purifying Fire

Recently, as I listened to Meredith Andrews’ song, Burn Away, it hit me. Looking back, I see where God took his refining fire to my heart multiple times.

I’ve been in the crucible and held over his consuming fire more times than I care to remember. But remember I must.

And you want to know why each of us must remember the times God’s consuming fire burned away the things in our lives that are not of him; things that keep us from being all he designed us to be? Because it is in those times of trial and testing that we are purified to become vessels he can use.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6–7

Flame Painting

Being held to the flame during times of trial or testing is no picnic. However, what about having an oxyacetylene torch heated to around five thousand degrees Fahrenheit to pull hidden beauty out of you?

During a visit to the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas, I was fascinated as I watched Skip Mathews, (no I didn’t spell his name incorrectly) copper colorist extraordinaire, explain his flame painting technique to me.

While Skip applied his art to a piece of copper, he explained that flame painting captures colors, shapes, and tones using only the very hot flame from the torch. It’s not how hot the flame is that creates the colors, it’s how hot the metal is.

As the copper heats, cool downs, and heats up again, it goes through multiple color changes, depending on the number of times it is held to the flame, how long the heat is applied, and whatever happens to be in the air that day.

Fire Brings Out the Beauty

When I considered the magical transformation copper goes through under Skip’s skillful application of torch and flame to draw out the beauty hidden deep within metal, I thought about times God applied his purifying fire to my life and the lives of those around me.

It is during those excruciatingly painful times that, just like Skip Mathews does with his torch and copper metal, God pulls out our best.

God goes over the areas that need additional attention with his all-consuming fire to rid us of the dross.

The Bible tells us God purifies those who belong to him through trials and testing in our life. Much like a refiner passes precious metal through the flame to remove the impurities that hide its beauty.

I will bring the third that remain through the fire and make them pure, as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call upon my name and I will hear them; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” Zechariah 13:9

True Colors

Similar to flame painting, when God holds us to the flame, he draws out our true colors.

The Master Artist knows how long to hold us to the flame. He knows when to remove the flame and let us cool down. He also knows when to reapply heat. And God knows how many times to go over the same area to bring about the result he desires.

There are no surprises with God. He knows what pattern he’ll end up with; what unique, one-of-a-kind creation we will become.

Depending on the intensity of the flame and the number of times we’re held to it, some of us will hold more turquoise in our final product.

Some more orange.

Some may hold more green or brown.

Still others will be in the red to pink range. Each life is distinct. Fashioned and flame painted by the Master Colorist’s hand.

 

 

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. Malachi 3:1-4

Your Turn

So instead of shrinking from the flames and being fearful, let’s adopt a new perspective. If God’s consuming fire is what it takes to make us more like Jesus, then burn away.

How about you? Do you embrace the idea of being held to the flame of God’s purifying fire, knowing it is for your good and God’s glory?

Count it all joy, my brethren when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2–4

I wish you well.

Sandy