Flaming Fire or Wet Wood?

I had a pastor one time who was fond of saying, “Now if that don’t light your fire, your wood’s wet.” Grammatical issues aside, the point is that when the glories of God are proclaimed and unveiled from His Word, when testimonies of changed lives are displayed, when the power and the mercy and the grace and the wonders of God’s love are brought into view, how can our hearts not ignite in worship before the Lord?

When we recognize that in His boundless love God sent His Son to save us from our sins, how can we not burst forth in gratitude and praise? When we understand that we’ve been brought from death to life, from darkness into light, from slavery to sin to freedom in Christ, from hopeless despair to unspeakable joy and from the grave to glory, how can we not burn with passion for the Lord? When we think about the promises of the abundant and eternal life Jesus came to give all who follow Him, how can anyone not fall before the King of kings and Lord of lords in wholehearted devotion and glad obedience?

Unless your wood’s wet. Of course it’s possible for anyone to harden his or her heart to the realities and promises of God. The Lord will not force anyone to believe against his own will. He will not twist your arm behind your back until you cry out, “OK, OK, enough already! I believe in You, or whatever. Now get away from me and leave me alone!”

Look at Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. Almighty God was pouring out miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, displaying incredible demonstrations of His omnipotence, and yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.

And sadly even God’s own people hardened their hearts against their God. The prophet Jeremiah records the word of the Lord for the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem: “Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds” (Jer. 18:11).

Here God was warning the people of what would happen if they did not repent and turn back to Him, though He was pleading with them by His mercy to do so.

Yet God knew what their response would be. “But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart’” (Jer. 18:12).

Wow! Are you kidding me? To the One who could build up a nation or destroy it with a single word, to the One who had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, to the One who had led them through the wilderness, to the One who had brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey, His own people said, “Forget it. We’re going to do what we want to do whether You like or not. So get lost.”

Oh, the hardness of man’s heart! Today I ask you – What more could God do to show you how much He loves you than to send His Son to take the penalty for your sins? What more could God do to show His power than to raise Jesus up from the dead? What more could God do to draw you to Him than to promise you eternal life, inexpressible joy, unexplainable peace, unfailing love, unending comfort, undying hope and His continually abiding presence?

Listen, if you want to reject the grace of God available to you through faith and settle for the treasures and pleasures this world has to offer, that’s up to you. But I assure you they will all be gone someday and you’ll have absolutely nothing left. You’ll stand before the Lord God Almighty upon your death in judgment, and you’ll have nothing but regret and utter despair.

Won’t you come to Jesus now, before it’s too late?

The fire has been lit during our revival services this week. At least in my heart. And in every heart yielded to the Lord. If you haven’t experienced it, then you need to let your wood dry out by repenting of your stubborn heart and trusting in Christ Jesus for salvation. Is your life a flaming fire or wet wood?