Consuming Fire

O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”

Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”

1st Kings 18:37-39 NLT

Nothing like a flash fire straight from Heaven to make a believer out of someone! This story about Elijah is one of my favorites. I love his boldness, his courage, and his faith in God to be able to face off against all of Israel. I love more that God showed up and burned everything - water and DUST included - to prove that He is the one true God.

Prior to this victorious event on Mt. Carmel, Elijah faced very difficult situations where his life was in danger, he was in extreme isolation for three-and-a-half years, and getting his food from ravens! Tough times, for sure. We call it going through the fire...

We've all been through some kind of trial by fire. Some more than others. Some worse than others, but as believers, we have come through. God has been true to His Word. He didn't say we would never go through hard times - quite the opposite, actually. Isaiah 43:2 NKJV assures us, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. Whatever it is - we are going THROUGH.

Some fires are good. Some... not so much. The great news is that God is always in your business, whether it's a Mt. Carmel experience where God consumes everything with His fire or the burning bush where nothing is scorched. Or if it's a manmade fire like that of the Hebrew children, it matters not. If we trust God, if we stay in His presence, His fire will bring us through as pure gold. 1st Peter 1:6-7 NLT reads, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to see the fire as working all things for our good. Help us to recognize You in the fire. We trust You. We long for Your consuming fire to burn away the chaff of life. Bring us through as purified gold. Let our souls be on fire for You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7lv9oMjv_0

Mere Gold

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

1st Peter 1:6-7 NLT

One thing about Texas with its hundreds of thousands of miles of roads, there is always road work going on. It's annoying. It slows us down. There are detours and dead stops. Sometimes, it's just plain scary! Do you think there is road work in Heaven? Nah... the streets are made of pure gold - gold that's been through the fire and purified. Do you realize one of Earth's most precious metals is just pavement in Heaven?

Think about that for a moment. 

If we traded all our stuff for its equivalent in gold would we be able to even lay a block of sidewalk, let alone a stretch of highway? Just FYI, a standard block of sidewalk measures 2 feet by 2 feet and is 4 inches thick. It weighs about 200 pounds. As of this date, the current rate for gold in the US is $1,890 dollars per ounce. Multiply that by 16 ounces to the pound and it's equal to $30,240 dollars. Multiply that by the 200 lbs and we find that the monetary worth of a standard block of sidewalk in gold is six MILLION, forty-eight thousand dollars ($6,048,000). And Peter tells us that our faith is far more precious than mere gold...

Is your faith being tried and tested? Don't give up! 1st Peter 1:9 tells us, The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls. PRICELESS!

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for placing such a high value on our lives and for providing the Way to pay for our salvation. Help us to hold tightly to our faith and to recognize its worth - the salvation of our souls. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen