The Cleansing Fire

Here in Dallas we reached 40 consecutive days of plus 100 degree heat. We fell two days shy of the record set in 1980 of 42 days. If you drive down any of the highways or look at lawns the grass is burnt and dieing. With the extreme temperatures also comes extreme draught conditions. Therefore the likely hood of seeing fires is very high. I noticed the other day there were small patches of black grass on the highway. Obviously there was a fire and it burned a small patch of the grass. Thankfully it did not spread. You may be asking why am I talking about this? Each day I drive by this same section of highway, I see the same dead burnt grass. When I get to the section that was burned by fire amazingly enough there is green grass growing back quickly. Each day it shows that it can survive and thrive because of the positive effects of the fire.

I begin to reflect on what may have occurred that day the fire broke out. I imagine it burned for a short time, fireman came and used water to contain the fire and extinguish it. Shortly after we begin to see new life begin to grow. Is this not the same thing that happens to us when we allow our heavenly father to burn off all of our old ways of living. If we are willing to let him, he begins to burn off all of the chaff, he thoroughly cleanses us from all of our sin and shame. During the fire it may not be exactly what we expect or want. I imagine it is not comfortable by any means. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." However, as soon as the father puts out the flames he floods us with his Holy Spirit to fill us with his presence. Ephesians 5:25-27 says Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

As I studied the effects of forest fires and there positive effects it is truly amazing that some tree buds do not even open until they are exposed to extreme temperatures that can only happen during a forest fire. We see the visible effects immediately after the fire is extinguished. God is always working this out to bring about new life. Remember that intense heat truly brings to life who you are in Christ. I leave you with this thought, next time you feel like your in the fire, rejoice, knowing that this is temporary. You will be able to stop and look back at how our awesome father in heaven was willing to make you more like him.