Fire and water—which one is more powerful? They both destroy yet they both cleanse.
I was recently at a Founders’ Weekend for one of the ministries we support, Time to Revive. One of the topics we discussed is that we are each a vessel. And vessels are meant to be filled with something. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Let’s explore what the Bible says about fire and water.
The Fire
When we allow natural fires to take their course and burn down fields and trees to ashes, they always come back. Nature needs to be cleansed and the opportunity to start all over from time to time. The vegetation that grows back from the ashes is fresh and stronger than before. Our job as stewards is to ensure we maintain our forests and protect them but sometimes nature itself starts a cycle of cleansing.
The same way, when we repent, Jesus forgives our sins, and they are burned down to ashes. Jesus washes our sins white as snow and they are gone. He takes the sins away and the shame that accompany sin. Genesis 2:25 (NLT) says that Adam and Eve, “the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.” Immediately after they sinned for the first time that changed. Genesis 3:7 says that “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.”
Yet fire can be destructive as well. When we hear how the fires in California, for example, destroy everything in its way, we see how powerful fire is. The Bible also tells us that while we’re here, our faith will be tried by fire and in the end, all our works will be tried by fire because fire purifies.
In the first letter that Peter wrote to God’s chosen people, he encouraged them with the hope of eternal life. In 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT) he tells the people, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
In the end, 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) tells us “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” And the names of the followers of Jesus Christ will be written in the Book of Life. Those who are not in the Book of Life because they rejected Jesus, will be thrown to the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14 (NLT) states “Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Living Water
Jesus says He is the living water and if we drink from His water, we will never thirst again. Our goal is to thirst for Him more and more. When our vessel is filled with His Holy Spirit, the living water, our hearts overflow with His love. Then that love flows out of our hearts and spills over unto others. People can feel the love of God on them through us. In John 7:38 (NKJV) Jesus tells us that “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
How do we remain thirsty? We spend time with God, and we read the Bible consistently. In John 4:10 (NKJV) we learn about the woman at the well that was getting water and met Jesus. Jesus told her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” Revelation 21:6 (NIV) says that at the end of everything, Jesus told John, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.”
Yet water can be destructive. We often see the destruction that floods cause everywhere in the world. In fact, in Genesis 6:17 (NLT) we learn that God sent the flood to destroy the entire world and humanity. God said, “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die.” He chose to save only Noah’s family because he was righteous in the eyes of God. But everything and everyone else was gone.
Genesis 6 describes how everything had gone wrong, and God was sorry He ever created it all. Genesis 6:8 But Noah found favor with the Lord. Verse 9 tells us that, Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. Because of Noah’s fellowship and relationship with God, He told Noah what He was going to do and that his family was the only human family that would survive the flood. Then God proceeded to tell Noah exactly what to do and how to build the ark. We all know the rest of the story.
So then, which one is more powerful: fire or water? They both destroy and they both cleanse in different ways. We need wisdom to discern each situation.
Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the Whole Armor of God. Verse 17 tells us, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The more we know the Word, the more we can combat the enemy of our souls, Satan. When we read the Word, we also learn that wisdom is applied knowledge. The more we learn about God’s Word, the more wisdom we obtain from the Holy Spirit. That wisdom comes with discernment which allows us to understand and recognize what’s truth and what’s not. Therefore, let’s ask God to give us His wisdom. King Solomon asked God to grant him wisdom, and He did. 1 Kings 4:29 says, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.” To this day, there is no other man whose wisdom exceeds Solomon’s.
Therefore, friends, ask God to give you wisdom to discern good from evil. While you’re alive on earth, choose Jesus Christ. So, He can fill you with His living water and purify your faith with fire. So, in the end, He will write your name in the Book of Life, and you will be forever in eternity with Him. The alternative is to end up in the lake of fire which is where Satan will spend eternity.