---

Posted by zippetydoodaddy on 05-27-2003 at17:40:

  Eleanor, it's raining

It's awesome to me how God used fire in so many ways to reach his people. From His very finger of guidance and protection for the wandering Israelites to eternal punishment to the comforting trout fire Jesus built to draw Peter close again.

What is the most meaningful fire in the Bible?

I'm inclined to believe it's either the flaming sword that keeps Eve and I out of paradise because of our sin or the one that stirs far above my head.

Thoughts?

---

Posted by Dr Rich on 05-27-2003 at19:16:

 

uh... good song???

---

Posted by DaLe on 05-28-2003 at12:55:

  Matthew's everlasting fire !

quote:

Originally posted by zippetydoodaddy What is the most meaningful fire in the Bible? Thoughts?

Matthew 18, verse 8:
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.


Matthew 25, verse 41:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

---

Posted by Soul Kissin on 05-28-2003 at13:52:

  Its all about fire.

The Bible says that "God is a consuming fire", I believe in Hebrews. I would argue that's the principle behind a lot of the fire imagery in The Bible.

God is indeed a burning fire, and if we don't burn with God's love, then we will burn because of the torture of God's love, which we don't want. Some say that is what Hell is: the torture to a soul, of God's love existing for them, when they don't want it.

And there's no room for lukewarmness in a fire; you either burn with the fire or get burned by it. With God, its all or nothing. We cannot serve God and manna. We are meant to be one flame with Him. Its a great calling; but its also a very hard calling sometimes. So, as The Bible says Christ learned obedience through suffering, so we need to learn it to. As Terry said in "Angels Tuck You In", it is our calling. Or as Randy Stonehill sings in "Stand like Steel":
"Nobody ever promised a garden of roses; nobody gets to Heaven without a fight."

God is gracious and loving; but we must always understand Him as a consuming fire, so that we can always evaluate if we are truly burning with love for Him, and our fellow man.
Because if we're not, we'll get burned.
SK

---

Posted by jiminy on 05-28-2003 at14:11:

  INTERPRETED

Flame why do I come so close to you
Vain telling me what I shouldn't do
I saw you smoldering before
I let him burn me to the floor - Flame

Flame why do you paralyze my soul
Pain if I hold you or let go
There's nothing bluer than your heat
You make the night bleed at your feet - Flame

Break my fall into this wild fire of love
Stolen from dreams

Flame why do I dance so close to you
Stained with the longing of a fool
When fires rise the shadows fall
Over the edges where we crawl - Flame

---

Posted by Dr Rich on 05-28-2003 at17:47:

 

plus you need fire to light a cigar!