So. There's this song. I have no idea what it's called. I only know one line from it, one line that consists of three words. Why? Because I have a manager at work that likes to sing out that one line quite often. It's only on his word that I believe that these three words are actually part of a song. They are: "Hearts on fire!" I wish I could insert some sort of audio clip in here so you could hear it and share in my blessed agony that comes from hearing one line from a song in your head a bit too often. Alas, you will simply have to have faith as I did that these three words actually do come from a song and in reality do have tremendous relevance to what I am going to talk about today.
I frequently am burdened for the souls of the youngsters in my church's youth group. I pray for them often, but I always find it difficult to talk to them about the gospel because they already know it all. They have been taught well by their parents, teachers, and pastors. Some of them probably know their Bibles better than I do. It's just part of being a part of a Bible-believing and Bible-following church since you were a wee babe. And don't get me wrong; growing up in the church is a very valuable blessing to possess. But sometimes it almost makes it difficult to distinguish between those who are believers and those who are not, especially among the teenagers.
Several of these teenagers that I know who are not professing Christians live their lives very similarly to that of a believer. They can give all the right answers in Sunday School, they speak up to pray at the end of Bible Study, they read their Bible often, and try to be loving and serving to their friends and family. This leads me almost to believe that the Lord has done a work in their lives; that they have been saved. But yet, somehow I know that can't be true.
What distinguishes a non-Christian from a Christian? Or also, what distinguishes a Christian from the rest of the world? There are plenty of nice people out there with good hearts and upright minds who are not true believers.
As I was pondering this question, that one line burst into my head and I heard my manager singing, "Hearts on fire!"
That's it - that's the difference between the believer and the unbeliever. One of them has a heart on fire and the other one doesn't. Right. So what does that look like?
Jeremiah 20:9 says, "If I say, 'I will not mention him [the LORD], or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." Christians cannot stop themselves from speaking about their Lord, for He is their all in all.
This fire within a believer is one that can never be quenched, for it comes from the Holy Spirit: "'He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'" (Matthew 3:11b). Christians should be the most consistent of all people because they continually have the Holy Spirit burning inside of them.
Another characteristic of fire is heat and warmth. Christians should be the most loving people, and those that love truly and with their whole heart, because they will love as Christ loved them.
A use for fire discussed in the Bible was that of refinement and purging. Christians do not stay the same after they are saved, for God gives them a new heart and continues to sanctify them until they reach glory.
True believers have "Hearts on fire!" because they have the Holy Spirit living inside of them, while unbelievers do not. This fire burns bright and powerful all their days. Let us pray as believers that we do not let the fire die down, but that the Lord would rekindle our flame. Our God is a consuming fire; let us be like him. Let the rest of the world see something different and uncanny about us, let them ask about the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15), and may we be burning to give a reason for it.
I just want to quote from another song, one which I do know for a fact is a real song. I have listened to it a whole bunch in the last few weeks, and I just can't seem to get enough of it. It is of my own free will that it is stuck in my head, and not my enthusiastic manager's fault (of which I am now glad of). It is called "Build Your Kingdom Here" by Rend Collective Experiment. I've probably already posted about them before, but they're just so great that I can't help it. The lines from one of the verses are as follows: "Come, set our hearts ablaze with hope, like wildfire in our very souls. Holy Spirit come invade us now." This is my prayer for every believer. Let our hearts burn bright in this dark world.
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