There you are. Sitting at your desk, trying to get things done.
But you can’t stop looking at the candle that is burning next to you. You find ourself mesmerized by the movement and the glow of something you don’t fully understand. The silent flicker, constant and lovely.
You turn to look at the fireplace. Flames multitasking as they dance and heat the room simultaneously. Soothing and instantly comforting.
A simple miracle.
Your peripheral vision catches the fire pit outside. That place where people gather to warm themselves on cool evenings. Where marshmallows turn to toasted, gooey delights.
A candle’s wick flickering.
A fire’s welcoming glow.
A fire pit’s beckoning blaze.
Fire is alive. Active. It gives us light and warmth. It creates an ambiance of peace and relaxation. It is constantly moving. Thriving in the life-giving oxygen of its surroundings.
It is bright without being blinding.
It draws people in from the cold and warms them from the outside in.
Things melt in its presence.
A lesser version of the sun,
mimicking its radiance, its heat, its beauty.
Jesus called Himself the Light of the world –
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12)
He wasn’t talking about an Edison bulb. He was talking about FIRE!
The breath of God Himself fanning the flame of life into everything Jesus was and said and did.
Active, powerful, warm, life-giving.
His flame on this earth drew people to Him who longed for that light, that life, that warmth and its healing power.
And after His death and resurrection (because this was a FIRE that couldn’t be put out!) His friends caught fire, too. When He left them to go back to heaven, He entrusted to them the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives (which also manifested as individual, personal, flames of fire for each one of them! See Acts 1-2).
The words that Jesus had shared with them earlier would now mean so much more:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Almost literally, the TORCH had been passed.
Fueled by the Breath of God, the Power of The Holy Spirit, and the Wick of Jesus’ example.
And now, the torch is ours.
The FIRE must burn in us.
We are lesser versions of the The Son.
Radiating His brilliance, His warmth, and light and life!
Living and active flames that are mesmerizing because of their eternally burning Source. Drawing others in. Offering reprieve from the cold and light in the darkness.
These are the questions I have to ask myself:
– Is the candle of your life lit by the fire of the Holy Spirit, living and active in you?
– Does your life radiate the warmth and light that you’ve experienced from the Source of all Light and Life?
– Are you drawing others in from the cold and offering them light in the dark?
2 Timothy 1:6 – For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…
