Keep the Fire Burning

Norma Jean and I have been enjoying our annual Fall trip to the Smoky Mountains.

Not only do we never tire of drinking in the beauty of the colorful foliage, but we also like a morning fire in our cabin. We’ve rented some places with gas fireplaces, but we like a wood-burning fireplace. Sure, it’s a bit messier, takes more work, and costs more money, but we enjoy the flickering light, the radiating warmth, and the crackling sounds.

The other morning, as I was up early getting the fire going and writing a blog, I realized the fire needed tending. A fire doesn’t stay strong by itself. The brightly burning flames can soon fade if the embers are neglected. Logs must be added. The ashes stirred. The logs poked. And oxygen must be allowed to reach the coals.

It occurred to me that our faith, our Christian lives, and our zeal must be the same. If left neglected, unattended, and ignored, the flame will soon fade; the fire of our zeal can dissipate into irreconcilable smoldering embers and ashes.

The Bible often speaks of our spiritual passion with the imagery of fire. Jeremiah said God’s word was “like a fire shut up in my bones” (Jer. 20:9). The two disciples on the Emmaus road exclaimed after their encounter with the risen Savior, “Did not our hearts burn within us?” (Luke 24:32). Peter spoke of the purity and refinement of our faith this way: “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 Pet.1:7).

Like a literal fire, there are at least three things needed to keep the spiritual fire of passion burning bright.

1. The Fire Must Be Kindled

All fires begin with a spark. It might be a match, a lighter, or a scripto flame lighter like I’m using here in the cabin.

Our spiritual spark occurs when we encounter God’s love, grace, and mercy. This may occur early in our lives through the teaching and example of godly parents. It may happen when a preacher proclaims the Good News of the gospel. Or it may happen, as I read this week about a lady who came to church for the first time and asked to be baptized for the remission of sins.” When asked by the preacher, where did she learn that? She replied, “By reading the Bible.”

#2 The fire must be stirred

Even a raging fire can die down if left untouched. One morning, I had a blazing fire going, went into another room for a while, and returned to find there was no flame. So, I began to stoke it, stir the ashes, poke the logs, create more airflow, and soon it was blazing again.

“Spiritually, the same thing can happen to us. Complacency, apathy, discouragement, and ritualistic routine can soon smother our zeal. Paul reminded Timothy, “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you” (2 Tim. 1:6).

However, you and I must cooperate with the Lord and continue to add fuel to the fire with the spiritual kindling of prayer, worship, Scripture, daily discipleship, dedicated devotional time, and fellowship. These spiritual practices are the wood that sustains our fire.

Stirring can be uncomfortable, especially when it comes through trial, temptation, or adversity. Yet, God can use such unpleasant events to stir and strengthen us. The Bible says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (Jas. 1:2-3).

3. The Fire Must Be Guarded

Our cabin has a screen around the fireplace to guard the fire and keep sparks from flying out. An outdoor fire in a firepit must be guarded to keep the wind from either extinguishing it or blowing it out of the pit, where it could cause harm.

In November of 2016, a devastating fire occurred here in the Smoky Mountains, caused by the carelessness of two teenage boys and unexpected high winds that fanned the flames. The Gatlinburg fires caused “an estimated $2 billion in damages, destroyed over 2,400 structures (including homes and businesses), and killed 14 people. The fires burned more than 17,900 acres and forced the evacuation of over 14,000 people.

Likewise, the fire of Believers must be protected and guarded from distractions and temptations that may either seek to quench it, or allow it to burn uncontrolled in ways that neither glorify God, nor build up Believers.

A burning zeal without knowledge is dangerous. Unguarded passion, apart from scriptural direction, may lead one astray into doctrinal error, or an emotional religious fervor unpleasing to the Lord. Remember, Nabad and Abihu, the Old Testament priests who offered “profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.” As a result, God sent fire from heaven and devoured them for their disobedience.” (Lev. 10:1-2).

Guard your spiritual fire by setting scriptural boundaries for what fuels it. The carnal fires and the fires of false religion burn differently. They consume rather than warm.

Finally, don’t try to live off of yesterday’s embers. Yesterday’s wood can’t fuel today’s flame.

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” Rom. 12:11).

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman