I'm on Fire

This morning I had a dream of asking rock singer Bruce Springsteen what inspired him to write his classic hit “I’m on Fire.” When I woke up, I immediately thought about how God wants us on fire for Him. In Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16, John the Baptist prophesied the coming Messiah “…will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” The Greek word for fire is pyr (pronounced “poor”). That same word is used in Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Many people get fired up for the wrong things. One of them is “saving the planet.” 2 Peter 3:12 says we should be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?”

So how does one become “on fire” for God? One way is to speak Scriptural promises over yourself instead of death and destruction. James 3:5-6 says, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”

1 Peter 1:7 talks about our faith being “tested by fire.” We can either get on fire for God in this life or suffer the consequences of eternal fires. Some Christians will discover their worldly pursuits won’t produce any everlasting legacy. Look at 1 Corinthians 3…

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 

14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 

15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Even more tragic is many lost people will find themselves suffering in a lake of fire for eternity because they rejected the free gift of salvation. 2 Peter 3:7 says, “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” The Good News is you don’t have to be one of them. Receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and live a life burning for Him.

“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord.” - Romans 12:11 (New International Reader's Version)

Universal Reconciliation

There are Christians so afraid of offending non-believers that they avoid talking about hell. Some of who are buying into the doctrine of Universal Reconciliation. This is a belief that everyone will have eternal life and even Satan will someday be reconciled to God. The latter concept should immediately raise red flags since Revelation 20:10 says the devil will be “…cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Verse 15 from the same chapter says, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." These Scriptures make no room for parole for the condemned.

It’s true that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) But two chapters later, it says in verse 1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Even some full gospel ministers have embraced Universal Reconciliation. A few years ago, Carlton Pearson (pictured above) began preaching a “Gospel of Inclusion” or “universal salvation.” Bishop Pearson, who had attended Oral Roberts University, formally declared belief in this doctrine at his New Dimensions Church, which later merged into one of the largest Unitarian Universalist congregations in the world. The Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops officially declared him a heretic.

The Bible says that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16) but He’s also a God of judgment. We cannot sugarcoat the truth of Scripture for fear of offending others. I pray that ministers like Carlton Pearson will awaken from this deception and boldly preach the truth about hell…as well as heaven.

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.” - Romans 11:22