One is coming who will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire...
- John the Baptizer, Matthew 3:11
Fire destroys. Fire refines. Fire warms. Fire elicits fear. Fire brings light and life. Fire consumes. Fire regenerates. For better or worse, fire always changes that which it contacts.
John the Baptizer was a crazy man by outward appearances. His message was confrontational and unpleasant. (Side note: I wonder how we would react if a 21st Century JB stepped onto the stage in one of our air-conditioned, comfortable churches.)
John had a fire burning within. It attracted and it repelled. His message centered on One whose coming would bring fire - the fire of a Spirit who would live within. Those who would allow themselves would be consumed... refined... regenerated... burned. They would be changed by this One and his Spirit of fire.
Religion's equilibrium is comfort. But only small controlled fires are comfortable. And there is chasm of difference between comfortable and comforted. The wildfire of God rages and burns away what is un-God in us. That is not comfortable. Yet this same inferno brings incredible warmth, and comforts when we shiver against the cold of life.
Will I choose comfortable religion? Or do I turn to the fire that consumes? If I choose this fire (that chooses me), I must ask the questions: What in my life is mere kindling? What should be combusted and turned to ash? What needs refining?
One is coming who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire... He is here.
God, consume me with your fire and comfort me in the flame.
For now...
D
