So, we ask, “What is going on here? I ran from a path that was leading me into the fires of hell - now to find I have run into a fire, while running to God! What’s up with that?!”
The answer? One path was leading into eternal destruction. The other path is leading toward eternal fruit.
When I speak of eternal fruit, I am not just speaking of a reward that we are to receive after death and crossing into Heaven. I am speaking about a life which brings true “life” into this Earth and into the lives of other people – NOW – in our years here on Earth, and will remain even after we have passed into Heaven.
While it is true that there is a fire that brings eternal destruction, there is also the “Fire of God” that feels and seems as though there is destruction taking place also! There seems to be a lot of pain, anguish, frustration, sadness, loss, and hurt when His fire is at work in our lives.
In John 15, Jesus speaks of a purging and pruning process in our lives. He states that the goal and purpose is to “bear fruit” or to “produce fruit” that will remain (endure, be long lasting, eternal). He also states “the Father is glorified” when we produce this fruit (John 15:8).
When purging and pruning take place (i.e. when we are going through the fire) it is often sad to see so much cast away or burnt away. It appears (and feels) that there is a great loss! At one time, what appeared as abundance to us, we now find was “nothing but fluff”! What we thought was fruitful and fulfilling to us was neither fruitful nor fulfilling to the Father. What seemed to fulfill a desire and bring us pleasure was not fulfilling the desire and pleasure that the Father had for our lives.
During these seasons of purging and pruning, we must remain steadfast. To remain steadfast is to remain faithful, to not give up, quit, or give in to a distraction or detour that seemingly pulls us out of the fire. These distractions and detours comfort and relieve our souls and flesh, but bring no fruit to the Father or to the Kingdom of God!
I close with a quote from Michael Molinos’ book, “Spiritual Guide”, written in 1687:
“There is the fire of inward pain.
It is fire which presses you through much sadness, hurt, depression,
discouragement, frustration, and loneliness.
It is a fire which will press you into God, or even drive you away from God.
It is a fire which will, if allowed to have its complete work in us,
purify our motives, desires, goals, and ‘reason’ for all that we do!”