CONSUMED BY FIRE

One of the basic lessons of science is the difference between physical and chemical changes in matter. In a physical change, the physical state of matter changes—ice to water to steam for example—but the chemical composition does not change. Water is still H2O no matter what state it is in. In a chemical change, on the other hand, not only the state but also the chemical makeup of the matter is changed. As a piece of wood that is added to a fire begins to burn, it becomes one with the fire, being transformed into light and heat energy. In the process, it is consumed and changed into something it was not before: carbon ash. It will never be a piece of wood again. In a chemical change, the essential nature of the object is transformed; it can never go back to what it was before.

This is a great analogy of what it means to live in union,communion, fellowship, and intimacy with God. Think of a log in a fire: the glowing log is so united with the fire that it is fire, while, at the same time, it remains wood.” When we encounter the Lord, our individuality is not lost, but our human nature is totally totally transformed. We can never go back to the way we were before. Our hearts are ignited by the fire of God, and we are never again the same.

The prophet Isaiah discovered for himself the transforming nature of the Lord’s fire. Here is his description of the divine “close encounter” that changed him forever:

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in all His glory threw him into dread and despair because in that moment he recognized his own sinfulness and wickedness. He expected at any second to be struck dead by the holiness of the Almighty. Instead, Isaiah learned the love, grace, and mercy of God in a new and deeper way than ever before. What changed Isaiah’s life was the touch of the “burning coal” from the Lord’s altar. Notice that the fire of the Lord touched Isaiah at the exact point of his confession. After he said, “I am a man of unclean lips,” the burning coal was applied to his lips. In that instant, Isaiah’s iniquity was taken away and his sin forgiven. His “unclean lips” were transformed into God-anointed lips for speaking the Word of the Lord.

The lips are among the most sensitive parts of the human body. Try to imagine for a moment the pain of having your lips seared with a red-hot coal! So often, the Lord’s touch in our lives is painful, but in the pain there is healing. Isaiah needed the touch of the burning coal of God’s fire to cauterize the wounds of his sin and his broken spirit.

That’s why confession is such an important part of our walk with the Lord (I John 1:9; James 5:16; Psalm 51). We need God to take the burning coal of His love and touch us at every point of our brokenness, and in so doing, transform us into flame-tempered vessels prepared to carry His fire. Isaiah left the temple that day a changed man. Like a log consigned to the flames, he was to his dying day consumed by the fire of the Lord, calling God’s people to repent and return to Him.

May we draw near and let the Holy fire of His love and presence consume us and transform us into useful, holy vessels prepared to carry out His fire, touching others in their sins and brokenness.