One Spark

We had a gas fireplace installed last year in our family room.
It was one of the best improvements we have ever done.
There is something about being able to turn a switch and have a toasty fire.

Of course, regular fireplaces are wonderful, a reminder of days of old.
Days when fireplace cranes swung over the open fire to cook the family’s meals.
Days when the fireplace was the source of heat for the home.

I enjoyed our old fireplace, too.
But there is something about the convenience of our gas fireplace.
I have someone here this morning, cleaning the logs and checking the jets.
Winterizing the fireplace, so we will be ready for the cold weather.

It amazes me to think that one spark ignites a full fire.
One spark fires those jets and causes the fire to burn.
One spark.

So often in God’s Word we read that fire is a symbol of God’s presence.

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush. “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off you sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:1-6)

Fire within a bush that never burned up.
Unquenchable Fire that called.

On the day the Tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud a above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out, whenever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. (Numbers 9:15-17)

Fire that hovered at night over the Tabernacle.
Unquenchable Fire that led.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)

Fire that rested on each of the believers.
Unquenchable Fire that equipped.

…Our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

Consuming. Unquenchable.
The fire that ignites a passion for God and His Word.
The fire that burns in our hearts giving us the desire to share the Gospel.

So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:8,9)

Unquenchable Fire that compels.

One spark fires those jets and causes the fire to burn.
One spark of one life that has been called, led, and equipped.
One spark that compels us to share the Gospel.
One spark that lights the darkness.

God the Holy Spirit is the Spark.
Without Him, we are cold and lifeless.
With Him, we are alive with the Life that is truly Life.

Do you have that one Spark?
This dark world needs your spark…desperately!