Hubby and I had a bonfire. A delightful blazing bonfire!
Naturally, a delightful blazing bonfire needs some toasted marshmallows to go with it.
The only marshmallows we had were itty-bitty marshmallows. And, I couldn’t find the marshmallow-toasting sticks. So I decided to settle for a meat fork.
A consuming fire … and itty-bitty marshmallows.
It brings to mind the verse: “Our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:29; Deuteronomy 4:24
After God rescued the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, he led them to the wilderness of Sinai where he gave them instructions for how to worship him. Here, God called a sacred assembly of the people, and God himself descended on Mt. Sinai before them to speak with them.
“There was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
“Mt. Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.” – Exodus 19:16-19
Our God is a consuming fire. And we, as sinful fallen people, are nothing more than itty-bitty marshmallows.
God is holy. We are sinful and unholy. As sinful, unholy people we cannot come into the presence of God.
What is amazing is that while at Mt. Sinai, God allowed Moses to regularly go up the mountain to meet with Him and receive the instructions He had for the people. God – a consuming fire – allowed Moses to approach him and meet with him. This is incredible!
During one of these meetings, God told Moses: “I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” – Exodus 33:17
God – a consuming fire – was pleased with Moses and knew Moses by name! This is amazing!
In return Moses asked if he could see God’s glory. God replied:
“I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But, you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
“Then the LORD said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.’” – Exodus 33:19-23
God – a consuming fire – is a God of mercy.
God – a consuming fire – is a God of compassion.
God – a consuming fire – allowed Moses to see his glory.
Some people will scoff at God and declare they don’t believe God exists. Some people will scoff at Jesus Christ and declare they don’t believe in Jesus Christ.
But that doesn’t change the fact that God is a consuming fire!
And that doesn’t change the fact that we, as sinful, unholy, flawed humans are nothing more than itty-bitty marshmallows.
Those who scoff at God and declare they don’t believe God exists … they are just itty-bitty marshmallows before a consuming fire!
Those who scoff at Jesus Christ and declare they don’t believe in Jesus … they are just itty-bitty marshmallows before a consuming fire!
God – a consuming fire – is a God of mercy.
Just like God had mercy on Moses and allowed Moses to approach him and to see his glory … so also, this same all-consuming God has mercy on us too! God – a consuming fire – allows us to approach him and see his glory.
How??
How can itty-bitty marshmallows get close to a great big bonfire and not be completely consumed??
By Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the how we, as sinful, unholy, flawed people can get close to God without being consumed.
“The Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
“The Son [Jesus Christ] is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” – Hebrews 1:3
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16
God – a consuming fire – is a God of mercy.
God – a consuming fire – is a God of compassion. God – a consuming fire – has compassion on us … even though we are sinful, unholy, and flawed.
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” – Psalm 103:11-14
God – a consuming fire – knows that we are nothing more than itty-bitty marshmallows. God – a consuming fire – has compassion on us. God has grace for us. God has mercy for us. God has forgiveness for us.
“Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with Moses and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.
“Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.” – Exodus 34:5-7
God is a consuming fire! We, as sinful, unholy, flawed humans are nothing more than itty bitty marshmallows.
God – a consuming fire – invites us to draw close to him, through Jesus Christ. We must repent of our sin, repent of our rebellion, repent of our stubbornness … and surrender our life to Jesus Christ.
We must allow Jesus Christ to take us (as itty-bitty marshmallows) and bring us close to God … just like I took the itty-bitty marshmallows and brought them close to the great big bonfire!
Jesus Christ will make us soft and humble on the inside … just like the itty-bitty marshmallows on my stick got soft and delicious inside. Jesus removes our “heart of stone” and gives us a soft humble heart.
Jesus changes our character and makes something wonderful out of our life … just like the itty-bitty marshmallows on my stick were changed in nature and flavor to be perfectly golden and wonderfully delectable!
However … those who scoff at God and don’t believe God exists … those who reject Jesus Christ … God’s consuming fire will destroy them because of their wickedness and their sin. God – a consuming fire – will judge sin. God – a consuming fire – will judge and punish wickedness, rebellion, and sin.
God is a consuming fire!
We are only itty-bitty marshmallows.
“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded. … Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” – James 4:8-10
