It only takes a spark

It’s that time of the year, when many folks head out into the wilderness and pitch tents and make camp fires. Many world problems can be solved around a roaring campfire. When my boys were young we loved “primitive” camping (using tents and few amenities). I’ll always have fond memories about those times spent around camp fires; telling stories, listening to the Braves game on the radio, and even reading a Bible story or two before turning in for the evening. Of course the mosquitoes and ants had a part in the action, but that’s just part of the ambience.

Did you know, there are some simple, yet profound Christian life lessons to be learned from a campfire? Here is just a few:

1) Draw Near to the fire. The fire can be very hot, and the closer you get to it, the more you feel its warmth, but the farther away you get the less you feel the warmth. The Spiritual equivalent would be that the closer you draw to the Lord, the more you will feel His warmth and presence. JAMES 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”. Isn’t it hard to feel the warmth of the fire, when you aren’t close to it?

2) Coals don’t burn long by themselves. Why is it that we are not to be “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is” (HEB. 10:25)? One reason can be found in a campfire. Have you ever noticed that individual coals in a fire will burn longer and hotter when mixed with other coals? When you remove an individual coal, it will go out sooner. As Christians, we need each other to help each other to “burn longer and hotter” in our Christian walk.

3) Sometimes a good stirring of the coals is required. This is an uncomfortable analogy. We all know fires may go out if they aren’t stirred periodically. Personally, as an “individual coal”, I had rather not be stirred; I am quite comfortable at times. However, if you are going to keep a fire hot, you must stir it up and make those coals uncomfortable. As individual Christians or a body of Christ, we must be prepared for the Lord to stir us up sometimes so that we can become the “fire” He wants us to be!

4) A small spark or match can start a large campfire. Personally, I like this analogy a lot. The Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost was recorded as being “like tongues of fire” on those who were present. John the Baptist said Jesus would come baptizing with the Holy Spirit and with fire. When God’s presence arrives in your heart, you know it as a “fire” or a burning in your heart. It may start out as a small spark, but then grow to a burning passion in your heart to do His will and to abide in Him closer everyday. There was a wonderful little praise song that came out in the 1970’s called Pass it on. It went like this:

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, can warm up in glowing.
That's how it is with God's love,
Once you've experienced it, you spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.

Beloved, you and I, as God’s children and born again believers, are called to be the warm and glowing camp fires by which the world can see and feel the warmth of the redemptive, saving grace of Jesus Christ. The fire of the Holy Spirit placed within us may be small when we are first saved, but can become like a glowing hot campfire on a cold night. The lost world out there needs the warmth and light from this fire so desperately.

Remember, it only takes a spark..

Blessings!
George