“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ‘for our God is a consuming fire’” (Hebrews 12:28-29; Deuteronomy 4:24).

There are several worship songs that include reference to God being a consuming fire. Have you stopped to think about what this means? We have studied the attributes of God: He is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, never changing, loving, just, merciful, to name a few. But what I have not read in the Bible is that God is our friend. I cannot find it. What I do find repeatedly is that God is holy. In fact, the angels sing that he is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. FYI, repetition for emphasis. His holiness means that he is perfect and cannot tolerate sin.

Everyone who has ever lived will stand before God in judgment. We speak of longing to see God, to meet him face to face. But are we ready for that?

• When God revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush, God told him to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. When Moses sought his presence again, God agreed but assured him that Moses would not be able to stand seeing His Glory. God allowed Moses to see his back as Moses waited in the cleft of the rock covered with God’s hand, and even then, Moses was so filled with God’ s glory that he glowed. (Exodus 33:18-23, 34:29-30).
• I cannot even begin to imagine Job as God spoke to him out of the whirlwind (Job 38:41). Just imagine the power of God’s voice as he speaks these words, as some say the most intense in the Bible. Think about that for a minute! Or a lifetime!! (Recommendation: Listen to this passage on the YouVersion Bible app).

God is a consuming fire because he is holy, pure, and cannot tolerate sin. His consuming fire burns up anything unholy. As our deliverer, He allows us to witness his power as He subdues our enemies.

• Moses to the Israelites as they are about to enter the Promised Land: “But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you” (Deuteronomy 9:3).
• Elijah at the showdown at Mt. Carmel, destroying the altar of Baal: “’Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’ Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they feel prostrate and cried, ‘The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!’” (1 Kings 18:37-39).
• Isaiah: “See, the Name of the Lord comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire…. The Lord will cause people to hear his majestic voice    and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm, and hail.” (Isaiah 30:27, 30).

The more I think about it, the more I tremble. Where is my hope?

It did not start out that way. God walked with Adam and Eve, until they sinned. Then he banished them from the Garden, yes as punishment, but also as mercy. He had to separate himself from them so that they would not be consumed; through their sin they also brought death to mankind.

• “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).
• “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27).
• “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Enter Jesus.

• “…so, Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28).
• “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Everyone who has ever lived will stand before God in judgment. I tremble at the thought. I am so thankful for my Lord and Savior. God, in His mercy, sent a way for us to be reconciled to him.

Praise God we know where our Hope is. God may not be our friend, but he is our Father. God may not be our friend, but he sent His Son to be our friend. Out of His perfect love for us, in keeping with his Just nature, he extended Mercy to us by giving—in the sacrificial sense—His son to take the punishment for our sins that we rightfully deserve. Not only that, he raised His Righteous Son from death to lead the way for all of us to also experience the Resurrection, eternal life in Him.

This gift is free. We do nothing to deserve it. In fact, it is because we do not deserve it that it is a gift, a gift of mercy. However, we must receive it. If I offer you a free ride to work and you tell me you do not need it, you might find another way to get where you want to go. But not in this case. If you do not accept God’s offer of Jesus’ life in payment for your sins, then you will only get as far as Judgment, then your destination will be eternal separation from God.

As wonderful as eternity with God is the fact that once we accept Jesus as our Savior, he covers us with his righteousness. That means that immediately, when God looks at us, he does not see our sin. He sees the righteousness of his Son. He can look at us, and we can more fully experience his majesty. God wants this for you. I want this for you. Your brothers and sisters in Christ want this for you. I hope that we all want this so much for all our friends and family that we will look for opportunities to share this truth.

In Christ,

Judy