The Consuming Fire

For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:29

It is in the thinking of the modern day professing Christians, that our God is described by grace, love, kindness and mercy. His every action is full of love for us, His children; His every intention only for our good, His blood-bought saints. His plan is for our future, and His leading is for our growth. As a result, there is a prevalent thinking among believers today, that no matter what they plan or decide, God will always understand.

Even if they have made a decision contrary to what they know is the will and word of God, they will presumptuously rationalize that God will understand. It is reflective of an individual who do not know God and His attributes. It shows the lack of a reverential fear for God and who He is. And many times, it may reveal a fearful truth, that the individual has never accepted Christ as His Saviour, not knowing who God is.

The bible verse here teaches us that our God is a consuming fire. He is not just love and peace, but He is righteous and just. When an individual comes close to a blaze, the heat can be felt. When the individual gets within the flames, he gets burnt. But when an individual falls into the fire, the fire consumes the individual. The bible tells us that he is a consuming fire, indicating that our God consumes in judgement.

God consumes those who reject His word: “Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh…” The word of life brings blessing and hope to the sinful soul. The words of life brings abundance of life and supplies encouragement when we are down and gives strength when we are weak. The words thus spoken are the words of a mighty King, and the language of an infinitely lovely God.  However, when the audacious proud spirit of man opposes and rejects the very words of the Saviour, God will judge.

“He that…receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48

God consumes those who reject His Son: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24 When Christ came, it was to point us to the Father. When we would receive Him, we would be saved and be on our way to heaven. When we reject the Son, it is a gross offence to the Heavenly Father. When the King of an empire sends an ambassador to another nation, and the nation receives the ambassador, the nation shows that she receives the King.

To reject the ambassador is to reject the King. God takes great offence when we reject Christ and the Cross and the things that the Lord Jesus has done for us. And those who will not live by the love of Christ, and His blood that takes away our sin, will die in their sins, be consumed by the judgement of God.

God consumes those who reject His Son by consigning them to an everlasting punishment “Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:…” This is one of the most frightening verses in the bible. When we, as sinners, reject the King of kings who offers the choice of eternal life in heaven, we are sent to a place of eternal punishment, because we have wilfully and deliberately ignored the word and pleading of Christ.

When we reject this offer of grace and salvation, there is no other way that we can go to heaven.

Dear friend, God is our friend, and Shepherd and Saviour. He leads us and cares for us. But when we reject Him, His word, and His leading, we become enemies of Christ. No born-again believer will reject His Saviour, yet in our carnality, backslidden condition, is it possible that we may yet shut Him out of our lives?

Christian, do we like the world and reject the word of Christ? Perhaps in the name of our selfish aims, and ambitions, we may and many times, sadly we do. We need to bear in mind, that it is a great offence to the Christ we claim to love, when we say we love Him and yet reject what He tells us.

Remember, our God is a consuming fire. That simply means: He is holy, hates sin and will consume in fiery judgement when we would reject Him, His way and His word. As believers, let us always have the heart to receive the word of God, and not to reject the one who loves us.

May Ambassador Baptist Church always receive His word and be obedient to the Lord Jesus.

Written by: Pastor Johnny Tan