Burning, but not consumed

The Beauty of Fire

A gracious home is a having a carnival, and the theme is "The Beauty of Fire". Lindsey at
Enjoy the journey is the host of this carnvial, go on over to read more posts on the subject of "The beauty of fire."

My first thought upon hearing the subject "The beauty of Fire" was of the burning thornbush that appeared to Moses. (Exodus 3:2). "And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, but the bush was not consumed." NKJ

When I think of the beauty of fire, I think of the beauty of a holy fire that does not consume me. The bush was a thorn bush, a symbol of fallen man under the curse and in my mind's eye takes me back to Genesis 3 and the thorns that came because of sin. Moses was a sinner under this curse, as am I. Again, I am taken back to Genesis 3..."Genesis 3:24, the first mention of fire in the Bible, speaks of "a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life". This fire appeared after man fell by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This flame excluded man from the tree of life; it kept him from even touching it." Life study of Exodus Vol. 1, Witness Lee.

The moment of Moses with the burning thornbush is not one of exclusion like the flaming sword, but in contrast shows me that even though I am a sinner under the curse, it is possible for the glory of God to burn within me and upon me. This is possible, and beautiful because of Christ's redemptive work on the cross that fullfilled the requirements of a holy God. The flame placed to keep man away from the tree of life is now the flame that visits man, indwells man and does not consume.

Fire is again pictured in the Outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. "This fire no longer excludes us from God; instead, it is the flame of God's visitation." (ibid.)

For me, the fire is beautiful because it represents God's holiness, his purifying, and his visitation. The fire is beautiful because it does not consume. I am just a thorn bush, and all that is not gold, but is wood, hay and stubble will be burnt away... yet I am promised that Christ has redeemed me, that He lives in my heart (Galatians 4:6) and that I am the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16). His fire burns away all that is not gold, but does not consume me. To me, that is mercy, and that is beauty.

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