For Our God is a Consuming Fire
Hebrews 12:29
Hebrews 12:18-29 says, “For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. … And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I am full of fear and trembling.’ But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels in the festive gathering, to the general assembly and church (congregation) of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to YAHveh (the LORD), the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to YAHshua (Jesus), the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood…. See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven? And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to YAHveh an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.’”
“The God of the Scriptures is a holy God—wholly other, radically different from anything else in creation, terrifying in greatness, and utterly awesome in love. This is a God who transcends our understanding and is unknowable except by divine revelation—the God described by the author of Hebrews as “a consuming fire.” But the church has reduced this God of glory to more manageable proportions. We have trivialized the God of glory.” [1]
“The New Testament warns us, “offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). But reverence and awe have often been replaced by a yawn of familiarity. The consuming fire has been domesticated into a candle flame, adding a bit of religious atmosphere, perhaps, but no heat, no blinding light, no power for purification.” [2]
Prayer: Father in heaven, forgive me for being so prideful and self-righteous. I did not have the reverential knowledge and fear of You as a consuming fire. I have fallen prey to reducing You in my own estimation to a god fashioned after my own imagination. I realize this is a sin and it has kept me from drawing close to You and knowing You intimately. I pray that the consuming fire of Your presence willingly, lovingly and powerfully, burn up the tares in the harvest field of my heart. I want to have a harvest of righteousness that is pleasing in Your sight to offer You when You come for Your redeemed elect. May the fire of Your presence burn in my heart, propelling me to seek You with all of my heart while You may still be found. Please Father in heaven, burn up in me those place that are grievous in Your sight lest they be my downfall. I want to stand before You covered in YAHshua’s blood that cleanses me from all unrighteousness. Purify me by the refiners fire of Your presence in my life— consecrating and setting me apart as holy to YAHveh.
[1] Donald W McCullough, The Trivialization of God (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1995), copy inside cover.
[2] Donald W McCullough,op cit. p. 13 (footnote).