Dana and I decided to have a fire the other night. Because I’ve never really been “wilderness man” (Compared to my brother who could just look at a stack of twigs and they catch on fire) it usually takes me a couple minutes or so to get a flame going. While I was starting this fire I starting thinking about faith and how on many levels building Christianity is a lot like building a fire.
When building a fire:
When the match if first struck and the flame started, it would be a mistake to believe that this is the fire you’ve been waiting for and try to use it to catch your largest log on fire. This action will most likely have the exact opposite effect. The log won’t catch, and before long the flame on the match will die out.
You first must set kindling on fire. Through the use of newspaper, twigs, and extra dry wood I had a small flame within a few minutes. This flame still wasn’t enough to consume my logs, and it had to be protected from a few strong gusts of wind, but it was burning stronger and brighter than the initial flame on the match.
I had just enough of a flame that I could see the fire forming and feel the warmth, but at this stage I knew that fire would be easily be stifled. By not feeding it enough, or by throwing too much on it, the fire will die.
Gradually and consistently feeding the fire will eventually lead not only too a roaring fire, but also white hot embers… the stuff that fires are made out of. Now you can feel free to throw those larger logs on the fire. They may not be burn up right way (as some smaller sized wood) but eventually they will be fully consumed. And if you let the fire burn hot enough, long enough, eventually all that will be left is ash.
When building a Christian
In Christianity, when that flame is first born it would be a mistake to think that your addictions and afflictions will divinely be cured. It doesn’t work that way.
The kindling can be seen almost as baby steps. There may be some areas in a person’s life that can be readily thrown onto the flame. Personal devotions, attending worship services and small (or large depending upon the willingness of the person) acts of charity could be all that is necessary to turn a single flame into a small fire.
But just like the fire needed protecting at this point, so does the Christian as this represents a critical time or growth in his heart. I will compare these dangers with not doing the afore mentioned personal devotions, attending worship services, etc… To leave the fire unattended could be the same as forsaking the assembling with fellow Christians and so on. There is a certain amount of extra care that needs to be given at this point.
Gradually and consistently feeding Christianity not only will your outward actions become different (compared to the fire’s flames) but your very heart and motivations for these actions will change (compared to the white hot embers). Once this has happened the Christian may feel up to tackling those larger addictions and afflictions that the small flame from the match was not able to handle. When these indiscretions are thrown into the fire they will eventually be consumed. It may take some time, but if you let the fire burn hot enough, long enough, eventually all that will be left is ash.
August 1, 2009
Quest for Faith