SOMETHING DON’D ON ME… by Don Thomas
Deuteronomy 4:23-24– “Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
It finally got cold enough to have a fire in the fireplace this week! I’m old-school…I want to haul the logs in, haul the ash out, wad up the newspaper, light the pinecones…the whole bit. I love a fireplace. I love the heat it puts off…the crackle of the old wood…I can sit and watch the flames do their dance for hours. It’s comforting to me. Not just the heat, but the memories of sitting by the campfire in the summer, or lighting that Yule Log for our family holiday celebration!
But I dare say our family and friends in California have a different thought about fire right now. I doubt “comforting” is the word that is on their lips. I would guess it would be words like “terrifying”, “ devastating”, or even “hopeless” that they utter in between the tears. As they peer through smoke-filled skies, and pray for any relief from these horrible fires, I’m sure many of them have watched their homes, their possessions, and even their faith go “up in smoke.”
It’s amazing to me that something as simple as a match can do SO MUCH GOOD…and so much damage at the same time! Warmed hearths…or destroyed homes-both from the same source.
There are many other things that work that way. A knife can inflict pain and slice through skin and muscle…but a scalpel in the hands of a skilled surgeon, can remove tumors and begin the process of healing! A vehicle is a wonderful tool in our life! It can haul the kids to school and to soccer practice, and it can deliver materials to our workspace. But the same vehicle, with an impaired driver-becomes a dangerous weapon, devastating lives. One of the most classic examples is Nitroglycerin-a small amount can heal a damaged heart…but in large quantities, it can destroy buildings and lives!
It may come as a shock to some, but God is called a “consuming fire” in both Old and New Testaments! In the verse listed above, (Deuteronomy) God is reminding the Children of Israel that God HAS been there…and He will BE there! They would do well to heed His warnings of not following “other gods”. (Yeah, they didn’t do very well there.) In a similar passage in Hebrews, (12:25-29) He is reminding them that the Kingdom of Heaven can NOT be shaken, and it will NOT go away! It also includes a warning to worship Him in awe and with thanksgiving, as He is “a consuming fire!” (They wavered some on that one too!)
God can be a warming fire, keeping the coldness of this hard world at bay. He WANTS to be comforting, consoling, and a safe place for you to curl up and let the struggles of the day float away, like the smoke up the chimney flue. But He warns us too, that God is a CONSUMING fire! He is not to be treated lightly, nor does He share first place in our hearts with our hobbies, our sports, our jobs, our Christmas lists, or accomplishments! Our worship to Him needs to be FIRST PRIORITY! We cannot waver from our commitment to worship Him in “spirit and in truth!”
Make no mistake- I DO NOT BELIEVE that God orchestrated the fires that are raging all over southern California. I do NOT see them as punishment for the sins of Hollywood nor do I see them as anything more than they are-a tragedy that will devastate many lives. I pray that we can lift these people up in prayer, help them with recovery, and continue to serve mankind as we are able.
But I pray that we ALL see the POWER our God has, and worship Him with respect and awe…because He deserves that kind of worship!
And I pray you enjoy your fireplace this season… may it comfort and warm your home and your heart!
Shalom Alachiem,
Don
Central Christian Church
Service Times
Saturday Evenings:
6:30 p.m. – Contemporary Worship (acoustic) Kid Zone for the children
Sunday Mornings:
8:15 a.m. – Traditional Worship (classic hymns)
9:30 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Contemporary Worship (Full Band) Kid Zone for the children
Church Location & Address:
1528 South Main Avenue, Portales, NM, 88130
