10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Corinthians 3 v10 -15
Our favourite thing to do as a youth group is to pack up our towels, a few bags of marshmallows, a guitar and hit the beach for the night. The fire’s going, the s’mores are flowing and the presence of God is there. It’s the best fellowship we have in my own opinion- simple freedom. I love it.
Fires are great. The mystery of fire amazes me- it only takes a tiny spark and within moments the wood, the oil- everything is engulfed in flickering tongues licking up all they can reach. The heat is inviting; the blaze are mesmerising. The flames dance and smoke swirls upwards into oblivion disappearing into the atmosphere. The smoke however has more of an influence than the fire itself. Even hours after leaving the beach the stench of smouldered wood clings to your hair, your clothes, the hair inside your nose. It just clings. It will never just wear off. The effects of the heat of that fire will fade moments after leaving its glow, but the lasting effect is the smoke.
The bible talks a lot about fire. Now, there are two types of fire. Type one is the All Consuming Fire of God Almighty. The same fire that met Moses in the burning bush in the desert. The same fire the saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from being engulfed in the king’s furnace. The very same fire that Elijah called down to burn up the offering on the altar on Mouth Carmel. This is a fire that purifies and refines and sanctifies in the holiness and purity of Christ himself. The smokeless fire that does not burn up and scar and harm, but consumes and cleans. The second type is the fire of the enemy. The fire that destroys and causes damage and pain. The silent fire that sneaks in during the night and begins to drown it’s victims in its potent fumes.
Sin is the second type. The kind of fire that creeps in like a cancer and spreads silently, burning holes in your relationship with Jesus. This scripture talks about running out through the fire; escaping the blaze with your hand over your mouth and nose trying to not inhale the toxic air created in this space, where your works and efforts are being burned up around you but you can’t run back to save them cause there’s no time- and God wants more for you than remaining in danger.
Then Jesus breaks down the door- he runs in and finds you crawling on the ground searching frantically for clean, cool air to breathe. He wraps you in his coat and straps an oxygen mask to your face. He picks up the heap and cradles you in His brawny arms and He makes for the door, striding in glory through the burning building as His voice soothes and comforts you. He tells you you’re safe now, HE has rescued you. The next thing you know, you’re outside away from the danger, wrapped in the Saviours love. His blood covers that fire and in a moment it’s gone. That sin that once was blackening and burning and brutally destroying your soul and everything within you in now a pile of smoking rubble. A great stinking stack of charcoal, to be scooped into a truck and dumped into the great unknown of God’s mercies.
But what about you? See the same fire that’s gone has left its mark on you. Your wounds are being treated, your burns are being soothed and your grazes are bandaged up. There’s the matter of the smoke that remains stuck to you, the unrelenting reminder of the sin you’ve just been brought out of. God breaks the bondages of sin- absolutely no doubt about it. Some things are made for overcoming; reminding us that at the end of it we still repeatedly need the blood of Jesus to wash us and clean us again and again. Fabreeze isn’t good enough! Spraying on top of it might cover the smell for a little while but it’s not a permanent solution. The damage is still there under the good works and efforts, we’re still blackened regardless of the sheet we throw over it.
We need a real scrubbing in the blood. Sometimes it takes more than one wash to rid us of the scent that’s left behind by sin. The smoke reminds us of where we were and pushes us forward away from it- who doesn’t want to smell fresh? There’s no better compliment that being told you smell great eh?
Fires are great. The mystery of fire amazes me- it only takes a tiny spark and within moments the wood, the oil- everything is engulfed in flickering tongues licking up all they can reach. The heat is inviting; the blaze are mesmerising. The flames dance and smoke swirls upwards into oblivion disappearing into the atmosphere. The smoke however has more of an influence than the fire itself. Even hours after leaving the beach the stench of smouldered wood clings to your hair, your clothes, the hair inside your nose. It just clings. It will never just wear off. The effects of the heat of that fire will fade moments after leaving its glow, but the lasting effect is the smoke.
The bible talks a lot about fire. Now, there are two types of fire. Type one is the All Consuming Fire of God Almighty. The same fire that met Moses in the burning bush in the desert. The same fire the saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from being engulfed in the king’s furnace. The very same fire that Elijah called down to burn up the offering on the altar on Mouth Carmel. This is a fire that purifies and refines and sanctifies in the holiness and purity of Christ himself. The smokeless fire that does not burn up and scar and harm, but consumes and cleans. The second type is the fire of the enemy. The fire that destroys and causes damage and pain. The silent fire that sneaks in during the night and begins to drown it’s victims in its potent fumes.
Sin is the second type. The kind of fire that creeps in like a cancer and spreads silently, burning holes in your relationship with Jesus. This scripture talks about running out through the fire; escaping the blaze with your hand over your mouth and nose trying to not inhale the toxic air created in this space, where your works and efforts are being burned up around you but you can’t run back to save them cause there’s no time- and God wants more for you than remaining in danger.
Then Jesus breaks down the door- he runs in and finds you crawling on the ground searching frantically for clean, cool air to breathe. He wraps you in his coat and straps an oxygen mask to your face. He picks up the heap and cradles you in His brawny arms and He makes for the door, striding in glory through the burning building as His voice soothes and comforts you. He tells you you’re safe now, HE has rescued you. The next thing you know, you’re outside away from the danger, wrapped in the Saviours love. His blood covers that fire and in a moment it’s gone. That sin that once was blackening and burning and brutally destroying your soul and everything within you in now a pile of smoking rubble. A great stinking stack of charcoal, to be scooped into a truck and dumped into the great unknown of God’s mercies.
But what about you? See the same fire that’s gone has left its mark on you. Your wounds are being treated, your burns are being soothed and your grazes are bandaged up. There’s the matter of the smoke that remains stuck to you, the unrelenting reminder of the sin you’ve just been brought out of. God breaks the bondages of sin- absolutely no doubt about it. Some things are made for overcoming; reminding us that at the end of it we still repeatedly need the blood of Jesus to wash us and clean us again and again. Fabreeze isn’t good enough! Spraying on top of it might cover the smell for a little while but it’s not a permanent solution. The damage is still there under the good works and efforts, we’re still blackened regardless of the sheet we throw over it.
We need a real scrubbing in the blood. Sometimes it takes more than one wash to rid us of the scent that’s left behind by sin. The smoke reminds us of where we were and pushes us forward away from it- who doesn’t want to smell fresh? There’s no better compliment that being told you smell great eh?
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Ph. 3.14
The powerful thing about the Fire of God is that in its all consuming nature, it consumes the fire of the enemy and overcomes that odour left behind by sin. It purifies us from the inside out, removes the stench and leaves us fresh in the Holy Spirit, renewing our strength and encouraging our faith little by little.
Only the power of God can cleanse us of that stink of sin. Smoke damage is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be permanent.
Only the power of God can cleanse us of that stink of sin. Smoke damage is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be permanent.