THE strange fascination of fire has gripped the minds of men since God "had respect unto Abel and to his offering" (Gen. 4:4). Our cover picture was chosen primarily to emphasize the importance of National Fire Prevention Week —October 9-15. It is impossible to overemphasize the responsibility that is ours in the protection of denominational property. Money lost by carelessness can mean souls unreached for lack of funds. We appreciate the efforts of our denominationally owned and operated insurance department and we urge our readers to pay particular attention to the article titled "Is Your Church Adequately Protected?" on page 24 of this issue.
Need of Spiritual Fire
None would desire a physical church fire, but who would deny the need of kindling a spiritual fire in our organization? The recurring symbolism attached to fire in the Scriptures is worthy of study. The Trinity is described in terms relative to fire and its effects. Deuteronomy 4:24 declares: "The Lord thy God is a consuming fire." God's revelation of Himself in a burning bush deeply impressed Moses with the purity and power of God. When the Lord communed with Moses on the heights of Sinai He "descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly" (Ex. 19:18). "Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire" (Deut. 4:36). The awful grandeur of this scene of flame and smoke upheld the authority and dignity of God's written character—the Ten Commandments.
In describing the Lord's form, Daniel records that His face was "as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire" (Dan. 10:6). John's description of Christ concurs with Daniel's when he compares Christ's eyes to a "flame of fire" and His feet as "pillars of fire" (Rev. 1:14; 10:1). Our Saviour is referred to as "a refiner's fire" (Mal. 3:2). These descriptions are in harmony with the concept of the fiery pillar which guided and warmed the Israelites at night during their desert wandering.
Angels, Creatures, and Word
God's angels are equated with "a flaming fire" (Ps. 104:4). Ezekiel's vision of the four living creatures was so strikingly radiant that he described them in terms of fire and lightning. "As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning" (Eze. 1:13). Jeremiah quotes the Lord as saying: "Is not my word like as a fire?" (Jer. 23:29). God's promise to Jeremiah is significant. "Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them" (chap. 5:14). The experience of this same prophet who at one time in his life declared he was finished with preaching, led him to find out the nature and influence of God's Word in his own life. "But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (chap. 20:9).
Thus one of the most used terms in connection with the description of the Godhead and their program of salvation is fire or its equivalent.
Fire Symbolizes Acceptance
God on various occasions expressed His acceptance of people and things by the use of fire. Fire passed through and devoured the divided pieces of heifer, goat, ram, dove, and pigeon when God made a covenant with Abraham (see Gen. 15). A glorious demonstration of fire from heaven consumed the sacrifice offered by Moses at the dedication of the tabernacle. So mighty was this experience, the Israelites "shouted, and fell on their faces" (Lev. 9:24). The parents of Samson witnessed the acceptance of their offering by a divinely ignited fire plus the ascension of the angel of the Lord in the burning flames (Judges 13:19, 20).
Another exhibition of heavenly fire took place at the dedication of Solomon's temple. This brilliant leader had just finished his dedicatory prayer, in which he eloquently pleaded for the mercies of God. A blaze of fire issued by God's command "consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house" (2 Chron. 7:1). The effects of this dynamic display of glory and power prevented the priests from entering the temple for a period of time. The impact of this scene of splendor moved the children of Israel to bow themselves with their faces to the ground and they worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, "For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever" (chap. 7:3).
The Prophet of Fire
The name of Elijah and fire are almost synonymous. The proof of the supremacy of God or Baal was based on fire. "And the God that answereth by fire, let him be God" (1 Kings 18:24). The all-consuming nature of Carmel's conflagration is revealed in the fact that water, dust, stones, wood, and sacrifices were devoured. This particular fire left no doubt in the hearts of the beholders as to who was God! "When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The Lord, he is God' " (1 Kings 18:39, R.S.V.).
The injured Ahaziah who fell from an upper chamber sent messengers to Baalzebub the god of Ekron to discern whether he would recover or not. God instructed Elijah to intercept these messengers with a rebuke in the form of a question. "Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?" (2 Kings 1:3). The insolent demand of Ahaziah in response to this question cost the lives of 102 men. Two groups of fifty soldiers each with a captain over them heard their funeral oration from the lips of this prophet of fire. "If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty" (chap. 1:10). There was no question about the fact that God accepted Elijah as a man of God! He proved it by fire.
Exit by Fire
Elijah's exit from this earth was in a chariot of fire with horses of fire (chap. 2:11). Elijah's successor, Elisha, prayed for the eyes of his servant to behold a similar scene in Dothan. The Lord responded to this request, "and he saw: and, behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (chap. 6:17).
Gideon was another person who entered into an enviable experience of witnessing acceptance by fire. He saw the angel of the Lord put forth the end of his staff and touch the flesh and unleavened cakes of his offering until a fire came out of the rock and consumed them (judges 6:21).
David was asked to make the awful choice of selecting one of three punishments. This had to be done because of his own foolish action of numbering Israel, and the decision involved the lives of his own people. He had to choose famine, sword, or pestilence. David chose to fall into the hands of God rather than the hands of men. At God's instruction, David purchased a place and offerings from Ornan. Here he built an altar, laid out the sacrifice and God not only stayed the pestilence, but "answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering" (1 Chron. 21:26).
Modern Equivalent of Acceptance by Fire
In our more religiously enlightened (?) age experiences of acceptance by God by an outward display of fire are unknown. Yet God's acceptance is no less necessary to the church today than it was several millenniums ago. Could it be that the church should give evidence of this acceptance by exhibiting the "gold tried in the fire" (Rev. 3:18)? Could it be that a congregation that possesses this gold of faith and love would make the church appear as if it is on fire? Could it be that if we as ministers set the pace by dedicating our lives to the task of securing this gold tried in the fire, our members will follow our lead?
Retreat Spells Extinction
The fire symbolism features tremendous lessons for the church today. Fire is active, never passive. Fire must advance—retreat spells extinction. It cannot be static or it ceases to be fire. Fire cannot rest, it is ever moving. It sweeps, it covers, it never spares itself. Fire is never self-contained-----it always shares with others. Never works by proxy. It exists by involving itself. Fire is enthusiastic, never reticent. Unyielding in achieving its goal. Fire never plays it safe. It never stops to question but keeps on burning. To live, fire must consume. It cannot feed on nothing. Fire is concerned with one thing only—burning. It cannot be sidetracked—it burns whatever is in its path. Fire spells surrender on the part of that which burns. The result is contagious.
Born to Burn
So with the witnessing church today. Put her in chains, consign her to an island, stamp on her, throw water on her, do what you will against her, but she continues to burn! This is what happened to the New Testament church. Opposition only fanned her burning into a giant conflagration which gloriously warmed the earth with the gospel of Christ. A church on fire for God is one of the most exhilarating concepts the mind can entertain. A church single-minded, constantly advancing, fully surrendered, unquenchable in spirit—this is God's plan for the Advent Movement. Would to God that the symbolism of fire be a spiritual reality in our midst. Like the sanctuary of old, may "the fire . . . ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out" (Lev. 6:13).
The church was born to burn!