The burning flame

What will light?

A few weeks ago I took a quick and spontaneous trip to the Outer Banks with my buddy. We saw there were going to be good waves and so instantly we thought we needed to head to Hatteras. We found a super cheap hotel, got a good dinner, and were excited for the sunrise surf sesh. That night we did what we always do, turn on some music and sit around a fire to talk. This time however, it was on a beach. Obviously making it ten times better…so we thought. In the previous hours the rain had been coming down fast, leaving little drizzles on and off. The sand was wet and winds out of the North struck on occasion. Our brilliant minds instantly thought “this is perfect weather for a fire.” It was not. The fire started and no sooner went out. We were able to light the little items on fire but due to obstacles such as rain and wind the larger logs were unable to catch light, leading to a very short fire. 

My mind soon started to wonder. Fires can be seen as good or evil. A fire can bring good conversation, warmth, or a fun time with friends. Being able to light a fire is often seen as a skill of sorts. On the other hand fires can bring evil. In 2022, 1,504,500 fires resulted in the death of 3,790 innocent people. Not only this but 13,250 were injured and 96 on duty firemen died as well (injuryfacts.nsc.org). These large numbers are only numbers recorded, meaning there was even more harm to people caused by fires then even recorded. 

Fire can bring great joy, happiness, and comfort. But it can also bring distress, hardship, sadness, and hopelessness. Fires for pleasure are able to be large and enjoyable but sometimes the items being used are unable to fully indulge in the flame, leading to the fire quickly going out.

As humans, can we fully indulge ourselves in something? Is this “something” always good or can it be viewed as evil? If it's good, what is the obstacle in the way of fully “allowing it to light?”

The answer to all of these questions simply is yes. It sounds dumb but it's true. As I have previously written, we are able to follow so many things on this earth, both good and bad. Many things actually have good aspects as well as bad. On this earth, so much can be used for good and used for evil. 

In the Bible, fire is often portrayed as a force of purification and divine presence. For example, in the Old Testament in Exodus 3:2 it states, “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.” Here, God appears in a burning bush that is not consumed by the flames, signifying God's miraculous power and calling to Moses. Similarly, during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, God manifests as a pillar of fire to guide them through the desert at night, symbolizing His guidance and protection. In Acts 2 in the New Testament, fire takes on a new dimension with the Holy Spirit. During Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is described as descending upon the apostles in the form of tongues of fire, signifying the empowering presence of God and the birth of the church. This fire represents spiritual purification, the presence of God among His people, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. 

Conversely, fire in the Bible can also symbolize judgment and divine wrath. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed by fire from heaven because of their great sin, exemplifying fire as a tool of God's judgment. This aspect of fire serves as a warning and a demonstration of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments. In the New Testament, particularly in the book of Revelation, fire is associated with the final judgment and the concept of Hell. The 'lake of fire' is described as the second death, the final punishment for Satan, his followers, and those not found in the Book of Life. 

This imagery of fire serves as a great contrast to its purifying aspects and underscores the dual nature of fire as both a symbol of God's presence and a sign of His final judgment on sin. Fire, even in the bible, brought the sides of good and evil to light much like many things do today.

Today in your everyday life are you serving and living for something that both brings good AND evil? Or are you following pure good, Jesus. He is the only perfect and good human the world has ever seen and what better time to witness this than now, in the Easter season. The Lord was good yesterday, He's good today, and He will be good tomorrow. Allow yourself to light up, avoid the wind, rain, and any other obstacles. Seek after the Lord and allow your whole being to light. The Lord is worth it all and will never fail.

It has been awhile since I have posted. Life has been in full swing and it has been hard to write a ton. I hope this is beneficial and allows you to think. I also think I should make it clear if you have not noticed by now my writing often has a theme “Good and Evil,” just in different scenarios in life. This is a subject I love to write on. Thank you for reading and please reach out with anything at all.