flame

As I see images of these tragic wildfires in California consuming homes, wildlife and even human lives, my heart breaks for all those affected. Complete devastation and unimaginable loss are left in the wake of the blazes. Deadly. Unpredictable. Fearsome. Unrelenting. Volatile. Erratic. Violent.

In stark contrast to this terrifying imagery, I think fondly of the contained fires I have enjoyed throughout the years, whether gaslit in my living room fireplace, kindled by hand in a firepit overlooking the lake, or built right on the back deck within the confines of the innovative Solo Stove. I love to gaze at the petite flame of a candle as it fills my kitchen with the scent of warm apples and cinnamon, and I remember the beauty created by thousands of cigarette lighters illuminating the dark sky while the Dave Matthews Band performed Satellite at Deer Creek Music Center north of Indianapolis, IN. (Pre-vape era.)

Pleasant thoughts flood my mind as I imagine those fires, like the warmth of a bonfire best experienced with my husband or friends. Flames flickering and dancing, mesmerizing us with their color variations. Shades of orange, red, blue, and white undulating with mysterious synchrony before our eyes. Radiating pockets of heat enveloping us in warmth. Lounging in Adirondak chairs, sharing stories and music as the flames twirl before us, captivating our senses, helping us to get lost in the moment.

This is the paradox of the flame—comforting, inviting, beautiful, and utilitarian when contained; utterly terrifying when not. In the Bible, fire is literally mentioned hundreds of times in an array of manifestations and metaphors, ranging widely from destruction and judgment to God’s presence and protection. We see fire in moments of wrath, during surges of supernatural power, and as visible manifestations of God Himself.

The fancy word for a visible manifestation of God is theophany. The first appearance of a theophany of fire in the Bible is in Gen. 15:17 when God is represented as a smoking fire pot and flaming torch in Abram’s vision, confirming the covenant He has made with Abram. Another is when the Lord appears to Moses in the burning bush and commands him to lead His people out of Egypt (Ex. 3). During the Exodus, God leads His people in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21). Once the tabernacle is constructed, Moses writes that “the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Ex. 40:34), and the Lord guides His people by cloud and fire all their days in the wilderness. “Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.” (Ex. 40: 36-38). God’s presence, visible in this brilliant way, must have been a comfort to His recently displaced people.

In the book of Acts, we find the account of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit comes rushing upon the disciples with divided tongues of fire that rest on each of them (2:3). Can you even begin to imagine the scene?! They are clothed with this magnificent power from on high, exactly as Jesus promised them in Lk. 24:49 just before he ascended into heaven. John the Baptist alluded to this in his ministry when he said, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk. 3:16). And though we do not see literal tongues of fire light upon us when we are baptized, the power of God that overtook those original disciples fills us in the same manner when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

At this point, we must do some self-reflection. Do we truly acknowledge that this awesome power resides in us? Do we trust Jesus when he says it is better that he dies and the Spirit comes to us? (Jn. 16:7). Do we believe Paul when he says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, that God Himself actually dwells in us? (1 Cor. 6:19). Personally, I have to believe this, or my life is meaningless. Without Him filling me, I am a selfish, prideful speck of a creature, but with Him, my life has great purpose. I am called to live this precious life in such a way that it brings Him glory, and I have the opportunity to embark on His journey and use the unique gifts He has bestowed upon me.

I recently learned of an obscure character in the Bible who now holds great significance to me because he is the first recorded person in Scripture to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Ex. 31:2-5, the Lord says to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” God lovingly calls this man by name and empowers him to lead the people in constructing all aspects of the intricate tabernacle. Bezalel is uniquely gifted and set apart for a specific work.

The Lord does this with each and every one of us who believe in Jesus. He seals us with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13) and calls us to do His work. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). God does not need any one of us to accomplish His purposes, but He invites us to join Him on the journey. Not only that, but He equips us for the ride. We just need to say yes and jump on board. We need to MOVE.

The following lyrics are my prayer:

Holy Spirit have your way,

Holy Spirit have your way,

We bring an offering.

You bring the flame.

Holy Spirit have your way.

His flame can destroy, refine or empower. As the people of God, let’s live our lives emboldened by the Holy Spirit. When terrifying fires erupt around us, may we be a people who spread His hope to an aching world in both word and deed.

Thousands of flames filled the sanctuary of our church as we sang Silent Night on Christmas Eve. The candlelight was a stunning sight to behold as we remembered how Jesus came to us as a baby at “the dawn of redeeming grace.”