Fire has always been a source of fascination for me. Anytime I was near a fireplace, I was mesmerized instantly. There's something magical about the soft glow of a fire, with those bright orange embers shining and shifting beneath the flames that is soothing to the senses.
As a kid, I was playing with fire at every opportunity. Cold nights and bonfires were made for each other, especially if marshmallows were anywhere close by. There was nothing better than a slightly burnt marshmallow to sweeten up an evening.
One Fourth of July evening, I was feeling particularly festive. I bought a few boxes of sparklers and headed home to light up the night. After watching the sparks spring and fade into the darkness, I thought of a way to make them even more enjoyable. Thrusting them high in to the air made them look more like fireworks, plus they seemed to cut new and exciting trails as they made their descent.
I was properly impressed with one throw, due to its incredible hang time. However, I was less impressed when I realized the hang time was so lengthy because the sparkler had gotten lodged in some moss that was hanging from an oak tree.
After briefly wondering where the tree came from, I decided a better use of my time would be to call the fire department. After the call, I rushed back outside to watch the rest of my neighborhood go up in smoke. I was surprised to find the neighbors to be safe and the fire completely gone out, just as the fire trucks came howling down my street with lights flashing bright enough to light up the northern hemisphere.
I sheepishly explained to the firemen that they must have driven too slowly because God had to put it out for them. Fortunately, they didn't corroborate my story with God or any of the neighbors, and they headed back to the station to finish the poker game I had interrupted.
Though this should have taught me to be more careful, my sense of adventure far outweighed any common sense I might have had, so I continued experimenting with anything that would burn. I often pondered whether frogs really made a loud, popping noise when thrown into a fire. One was never close by any of my fires, so I will never know. Both God and frogs everywhere are glad of this. I'm pretty sure it would have been a sin to barbecue a frog for no reason, so I'm glad I missed out on at least one sin.
Being that my feet trod the good earth and my lungs are filled with air of mortals, I committed plenty of other sins to make up for the one I missed. But, fires have taught me a lot about sin and God. The allure of a fire's glow is a lot like temptation. Stare into a wayward thought long enough and you will be mesmerized into compliance. The beautiful flames create their own environment that dulls the reality of the harm you are considering.
On the other hand, the Holy Spirit is often referred to with fiery imagery. The book of Hebrews describes God as a consuming fire. So, you can fight fire with fire. Think about the fact that God is a consuming fire, not just a warm little weak campfire. He has been known to totally consume altars offered to him, even those that were first drenched in water. Ask Elijah about that one.
What would happen if we put the small fires of our temptations onto an altar of submission before God's holy and much hotter fire? I know from experience that God's fire always wins.
I also know that some sins are easier to surrender than others. That's why we should keep asking God to light a fire under our desires until we can see the things that blind us for what they are. It's easier to let go of a rattlesnake than it is a cute little puppy. You know those puppies, the ones we buy because "we deserve to be happy." Like all sentences supplied by the enemy of our souls, there are some words left out. It should read, "We deserve to be happy at all costs," because there is always a great cost to you and others.
Still, we remain hopelessly tethered to the rattlesnakes we choose not to acknowledge and rid ourselves of. Try starting a new fire by calling out the snake. That "puppy" you are longing for has some big teeth. It will grow up and never be housebroken, but it will destroy your home and it will destroy you unless you unmask it.
The good news is that God understands this is a process and a journey. He is patient and kind, willing to walk us through each difficult step and even carry us much of the way. We must choose God's path over our deceptive feelings. We aren't required to win every battle, but we must stay in the war. Making that choice often enough is sure to start a fire that will light a path of freedom for yourself and others to follow for years to come. Go ahead and light a fire under that thing. It's sure to pop!