The Cleansing Fire

Fire – Jesus came to bring fire to the earth!?  Why fire!?

Fire is destructive and dangerous

Fire devours houses and leaves families homeless

Fire devastates our beautiful forests

Why would Jesus say he came to bring fire?

The prophet Malachi spoke to the people of Jerusalem and told them God will send a messenger – one who will prepare the way – who will be like a refiner’s fire.

What is the first image in our minds of fire? It probably depends on what experience we have each had with fire.

We were taught as children to stay away from fires and not to play with fire because they are hot and dangerous.

Yet, the Bible tells us God’s messenger is like fire and Jesus brings fire to earth… maybe we need to reconsider this image laid before us.

If we stop to think about it, like so many things that are scary and dangerous, there is the other side of fire – the good and useful side.

Fire is used to warm us when we are cold.

Fire is used to cook our meals.

Fire is used to light our way when it is dark.

Fire isn’t all bad.  In fact the refiner’s fire that Malachi speaks of is a fire that helps make gold and silver stronger.  A refiner’s fire is not the scary uncontrolled fire that destroys.  A refiner’s fire does not consume completely like the fire of an incinerator. A refiner’s fire refines. It purifies. It melts down the bar of silver or gold, separates out the impurities that ruin its value, burns them up, and leaves the silver and gold intact.

Jesus is the refiner’s fire.  Jesus brings fire – not to destroy us – not to devastate our lives – not to produce fear within us.  Jesus brings fire, to melt us – separate us from our impurities – and help us to find our true value in Him – our Savior.

Oh sure – the melting of our souls – the process of refinement isn’t always easy – in fact the thought of it can bring the same fear to mind that a forest fire can bring as it heads toward our home.  Letting Christ into our hearts – letting Him into the deepest parts of our being – makes us vulnerable and yet once we lay it all before Him – he simply burns up the bad stuff and allows us to be the best of who we are in Him.

Yes, Jesus said He came to bring fire to earth – not to destroy it but to make it better than it was.

The baptism Jesus mentions in this text is a baptism of fire that will not bring peace and warm fuzzy feelings for a while.  His fire may very well bring chaos instead of comfort – division not peace.

If we think about it if we truly allow Jesus to separate our sins from us we may not know who we are.  Sometimes our sins, our internal struggles have been with us so long that they become like family.  Sometimes our sins may very well be a part of our family’s traditions.  I wonder, as some scholars have noted, is this what is meant when we read that Jesus came to bring division.

Father against son, son against Father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother.  Our sins are family to us.  They may be the part of us we don’t like but they are a part of us.

During the refinement – the hottest moment when the impurities are separated and destroyed – we are going to feel lost and vulnerable but the REFINER – God himself – doesn’t leave us in that state.  He pulls us from the fire when we are the purest and the strongest.  He knows the best we can be and is working on us to help us to see the same.  We do not need our sins – they are not who we are.

Our sins are actually separating us from being the person God created us to be.

The first few verses of Hebrews 12 say, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..”

This is our call to persevere through the fire – to allow our sins to be taken away – and to become the person God meant for us to be – all through the love and saving grace of Jesus – the perfecter of our faith.

Maybe you are feeling the heat of the fire this very day?  Maybe you are feeling the need to let go of your sins that have become so evident to you?  Maybe you have made it through the refining process and you are still trying to learn how to live this new life?

Wherever you are – do not be afraid.

Do not fear the fire – because Jesus the Great Refiner – has a constant eye on you and will not let anything more than the impurities be destroyed.

Do not fear letting go of your sins – Jesus is preparing you for a better and more peaceful life with Him as your focus.

Do not fear the new life Jesus has prepared – go forward with confidence and the calm assurance that Jesus Christ – our Lord and SAVIOR is forever with you.