Our God is a consuming fire!

Heb. 12:29 KJV For our God is a consuming fire.

Many times we heard this scripture. Our God is a consuming fire, meaning that He consumes people, things and whatever is on His way into fire, burns them up and leaves a pile of ashes. Is that so?

To have a better understanding, let's read together the true meaning of the word "fire" in this verse and see what we can learn out of it.

4442 pýr – fire. In Scripture, fire is often used figuratively – like with the "fire of God" which transforms all it touches into light and likeness with itself

God's Spirit, like a holy fire, enlightens and purifies so that believers can share more and more in His likeness. Indeed the fire of God brings the uninterrupted privilege of being transformed which happens by experiencing faith from Him. Our lives can become true offerings to Him as we obey this imparted faith from God by His power.

[This is illustrated by God's fire burning continuously at the entrance of the Tabernacle where the priests made sweet-savor offerings. Compare Lev 6:12,13 with 1 Pet 2:5,9.]

Do you see a different picture? Let me remind you the story from Daniel, also very well known, how three Hebrew boys got into the fiery furnace. What was the outcome? Not only they didn't get burned, there was no smell of smoke around them. As I was meditating about these scriptures, I heard the Lord spoke so clear in my heart. He said: "people think that when they come to me, I will burn them and knowing in their mind, that fire hurts, they think, that I will hurt them. I am Love and Love doesn't hurt. Yes, it is true, they come to Me and they need to repent and come with reverence, not fear. Yes, they come to Me only through My Son Jesus. But when they do come and judge themselves, and look up to Me, My fire will not burn them. My fire will purify them, My fire will burn around everything that is not of Me, but it will never hurt My people. My fire is a light and it shows My people what exactly they need and what needs to be burned. My fire does not hurt!"

And thought about it and I thought about it. I was again and again amazed, totally melted by God's Love. I always had in my mind a picture, when I come to God and He burns and the burning brings me pain. How wrong I was.

Remember what John the Baptist said? He said, that the One Who comes after me will baptize you with Holy Ghost and fire. And after receiving this new revelation, my prayer is that: "God! I ask you to baptize me with fire, Your Divine Fire!"

I am not afraid anymore. How can I be? God is Love and there is no fear in Love. I am not afraid, I know that coming to Him means only well to me.