Lessons From A Fire

 “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”-Acts 2:47

A fire, like a church, starts with a match or small spark.  Then you add some kindling for it to catch, followed by some fuel logs, and it soon grows into a bright burning blaze.  This catches the eye, but the heart of the fire has yet to fully develop, because the wood has not been consumed. 

Last week while observing the fire in my fireplace it came to me that in many ways a fire is like a church.  The needs of a fire are simple: fuel, air, ignition. Yet, in the beginning stages a fire is vulnerable and easily influenced.  However, once the wood catches and it goes up in a blaze (dramatic as it may be), the longevity of the fire is still not ensured, because the heart of the fire has not been formed.  The hot coals are not there yet.  The whole of logs and their purpose is to be consumed.  Once consumed the wood will fall to the ground to form a bed of hot coals.  This is the heart of a fire.  That hot bed of coals that are at the base of the fire is almost indistinguishable in the sense that you cannot tell if they are fire or wood.  It is a perfect union of the two.  This is holiness, this is God’s plan for the people of God, and His church.  You that are in perfect union with Christ are at the heart of the church because you are at the heart of God.  A hot bed of coals can convert into fire the wettest or greenest wood you lay to it.  The coldest heart, and the most burdened soul can come in amongst the church and feel the burning love of God, and/or conviction of sin.  You can pour water over a bed of coals, and by simply turning it over and breathing a fresh wind, the coals will ignite. No amount of doubt or deception will prevail upon holiness of heart and life.  The fire burns too deep and can withstand the downpour of Satan’s might.  You can’t hardly kill a fire with a big bed of coals, because they are steadily burning, with a fervent heat.  That heat is strong enough to ignite the coldest timber you can add.  The coals sit at the bottom of the fire, burning in obscurity.  They don’t draw the attention of the outsider but work to set new members ablaze.  It is not them per say but the fire that they have become, set ablaze by God, and burning for the Lord.  Their desire is not to garner all the attention, but to grow the fire!  To convert the sinner!  So is their purpose. 

The Lords adds to the church when the church is prepared to receive.  A young or underdeveloped fire cannot convert green, wet, or cold wood.  It will only become overburdened and return to a cold, lifeless state.  The Lord added to a church that is set to the heart of Himself.  This is vital, so that new members so added are set ablaze.  For no other reasons than they need to be consumed and find refuge at the heart of the fire.  The whole of the church consumed in love for God and taking refuge in holiness.