Stay in the Fire

Years ago a Pastor paid a visit to a gentleman from the congregation.  This man’s participation in the life of the congregation had become more and more erratic and diminished to where it was almost nonexistent.

It was a cold winter evening when the Pastor knocked on the door.  The older man opened the door and invited the Pastor inside.  There were two chairs sitting next to an inviting fireplace.  The old man sat in one of the chairs and gestured toward the other with his hand for the Pastor to join him.

As they sat together, enjoying the fire they exchanged some small talk about the cold weather and the short days.  They were both old enough that they did not need to fill every moment with chatter.  Through their years they had learned to be comfortable in silence.  After a little bit the Pastor asked his host why he was no longer interested in being a part of the spiritual life of the congregation.

The man thought for a minute before answering.  He didn’t feel the need to make excuses or feel threatened by the question.  After a moment he finally told the Pastor, “I guess I just lost interest. Nothing happened nor did anyone do anything to make me mad or hurt me. I just lost interest.”

The Pastor thought about that answer sincerely.  He appreciated the older man’s honesty.  But he was also concerned about his spiritual well-being.  After sitting there for moment he took the small ash shovel standing next to the fireplace and grabbed a red hot coal from the fire.  He placed the coal on the rock hearth.  He didn’t say a word as both men sat and watched the red hot coal.  After a few minutes the coal lost some of the intensity in its color.  Gradually and slowly the coal continued to lose its color and heat until finally it sat there on the hearth, nothing more than than a black and grey pile of ash, completely cold to the touch.  Being removed from the fire it gradually lost all of its brilliance and heat and became a worthless pile of ash.  Good only to be thrown out.

The Pastor didn’t have to say or explain anything.  The somber look on the older man’s face clearly showed that he understood what he had just been taught.  The Pastor then had a gentle but serious time of prayer for the man and his soul.

Once removed from the fire we begin to lose our spiritual brilliance and heat.  We no longer absorb or provide any light or heat. In order to continue to burn bright and hot we must stay in the presence of the fire.  We need to remain immersed in the Word of God, in prayer, and the fellowship of the believers.  The Holy Spirit works through these to build us and each other up in the Lord.  Do not neglect the gathering of yourselves together, nor the instruction in the Word, nor the communion in prayer.  It is easy to let the tares choke out the life of the plant. Once the plant has has withered it is worth nothing. Once the coal has lost its fire, it is fit only to be thrown out.