For our God is a consuming fire
Hebrews 12:29 has been bouncing around in my head for quite some time. Partially because it is the basis for a College-age ministry I am helping to start, and partially because its part of such an awesome concept.
[25] See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, [26] whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”
[27] Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
[28]Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. [29] For our God is a consuming fire.
If you read further up, you see that the author of Hebrews is using the story of Moses to illustrate how God seperates the things of Him from the things of this world. On Mount Sinai, God spared only those who remained faithful to HIm. Similarly, God “shakes up” the foundations of our lives, removing the pieces which are not firmly anchored in Him. Kind of like a virus cleaner. File infected? Whoops! Had to delete the whole thing. Heheh. So I’m guessing a modern, techy translation would be “For our God is an up-to-date virus scanner.” Doesn’t quite have the same gusto…
Anyways. I’ll leave you with a question to bounce around in your head: What parts of your lives is God shaking up, but you’re still trying to hold on to?