What Does God is a Consuming Fire Mean?

 

What Does God is a Consuming Fire Mean?

Crisp fall air invites us to gravitate toward campfires. Logs crackle and gray, oak-scented smoke spirals to the sky.

Give me a marshmallow and a hot dog, please.

Fall also brings Halloween. For weeks Halloween decorations have abounded in stores, yards, and porches. This is not an attack against those who like Halloween. But I am not one who likes this day because of the evil origins.

I know kids love to dress up and get candy. Who doesn’t like sugar? Children aren’t thinking of what all this means, they just want the goodies.

But some of the decorations can make a believer cringe. I think this day is observed as fun because the meaning is not taken seriously. A lot of people don’t believe the devil is real. And if they do, he is considered a cartoon character in a red suit with a pitchfork.

Lucifer, an archangel fell from heaven when iniquity was found in him. He wanted God’s position. He is now known as satan, the fallen spirit. He is the father of all things evil. Demonic origins are behind Halloween and the devil rejoices when we are deceived into thinking this is just a fun day. Rather than giving glory to a fallen angel, we can glorify God by thanking Him for the fire of His Holy Spirit. 

What does it mean that God is a consuming fire? For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29 NKJV). What does His fire consume?

God’s fire consumed sin.

While autumn can call us outside to enjoy a backyard fire, campfires are no comparison to the fire of God. As a believer, His fire is nothing to fear.

The blaze of judgment turned sin to ash at the cross.

While we are on this earth, we do still commit sin. But the punishment for our transgressions is complete because Jesus endured the fire of the wrath of God against sin. Those who have accepted Christ can rejoice in that consuming fire.

God’s fire consumes us with power when we welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives.

After Jesus ascended to heaven, God sent another kind of fire to the earth – the Holy Spirit.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:11-12).

God’s fire consumes the motives of all our works. Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

The fire of judgment day is in the future. All those who did not accept the payment Jesus made when His body was consumed in the fire of God, will be burned in eternal fire. That will be a sad day.

The payment has been made, but many will not accept it.

Our God is a consuming fire. He burned our sin at the cross, He burns up our dead works to purify our motives and minds, and He burns within us with power. And His fire will judge those who reject Him.

Satan will feel that fire of judgment, too. Eternal damnation for the one who caused all the misery of earth since the Garden of Eden. He will burn with eternal misery. The days of evil will be over.

We can celebrate the Holy Spirit because Jesus defeated the fallen spirit. We don’t have to give the devil any more power by giving in to his temptations and lies. (click to share on X)

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NKJV)

God’s love can burn within your heart if you accept His sacrifice and join His family.

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Image by Edyta Stawiarska from Pixabay