The Bible uses the symbol of fire variously. As we do healthy self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:4), we should make sure that the right kinds of fires are burning in our lives. Consider the following personal questions:
- Are we hurting others with the destructive fires of ungodly speech? James wrote, “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell” (3:5-6). The Proverbs writer warns, “A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire” (16:27).
- Are we toying with the destructive fires of lust (Proverbs 6:27; 1 Corinthians 7:9) or anger (Hosea 7:6-7)? We must keep our thoughts in check, for our thoughts form our character (Proverbs 4:23; Mark 7:20-23; 1 Peter 3:4) and produce our actions (Matthew 12:33-37; Luke 12:16-20).
- Are we allowing the fiery challenges of life to hinder our faithful service to God? Peter wrote, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
- Are we building up the fire of God’s word in our hearts so that we cannot keep it in, but must share it with others? Jeremiah said, “If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot” (20:9).
Those whom God saves are portrayed as being pulled away from fire. For example, Amos proclaimed the following word from the Lord: “I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning” (4:11). Jude noted that those who are saved are rescued “from the fire” of everlasting punishment (23).
May each of us make preparations to be in that blessed group of those who have everlasting life, who are snatched out of the fire.