Burn

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Words of Christ) Matthew 5:13-16

We've all heard sermons on this before. Sermons about letting our light shine so others can see it. Let's go back one step. Before you let your light shine, before others can see it, you have to be burning. Even in a light bulb, what you see as light is heat, nigh unto a fire. The sun is big ball of fire.

We can never expect to make a difference, we will never shine if we are not passionate. We have to have a passion, a burning for Christ, for His love. If we are not 'on fire' for God then we, simply, won't shine for Him either.

I spent a few years of my young life in my grandparent's home in the suburbia of Northeast Ohio. Both of my grandparents were raised on forms, my grandmother actually on a vineyard, and when they were married they raised their children on a farm. They moved when my mother was 18, but some of the 'heritage,' for lack of a better word, has stayed with them. They own a one acre parcel of land with a decent -sized garden and a barn. In that barn is all of my grandfather's woodworking and mechanical equipment as well as two unfinished helicopters and an engine hoist that you can raise up to the ceiling. Let me tell you, that makes for some fun times with the siblings.

The home is heated by wood. In the basement of my grandparents home is a big black wood-burning stove. The only way to know that stove is working is to feel the heat in the house, to smell the smoke in the house, and to see it from the chimney. If none of those exist, you can pretty much be assured that the stove isn't burning. Some Christians are like that with their lives. They burn, but it's hard to tell. You have to get close to feel the heat or you really wouldn't know.

If we want to make a difference, we not only must burn, we must radiate. To radiate means 'to extend, spread, or move like rays or radii from a center,' 'to glow.'

The world has to see the fire. The heat will only touch a few, the light will touch many more.

In my home, at present, we have a fireplace. There is no questioning when there is a fire; you can see it; it is evident through sight, smell, touch and even sound.

That is how our lives should be: visibly on fire for God, for all that He has done for us, for the testifying of His grace.

How do we do that? Fires take time to build. Certainly, the embers start right away, but without dedication and upkeep the fire will die. How do we maintain our spiritual fire? We spend time with Him. I know it's cliche, but it's the truth, so I can't change it. That is simply how it is. If you want to burn for God, then you must burn for God. He has to consume you.

Spend some time in His word. Soak up all that He is, try to comprehend all that He desires for you. Search after His heart. Then, allow the fire of His own love for the world ignite your heart for the same, and burn.