Hallowed Flame

God’s children have been drawn from darkness into His light.  He has lit the flame of repentance and stoked the tinder of faith.  Like Moses, our eyes have beheld Jehovah’s presence in the burning bush, and we have removed our soiled sandals because we now stand on holy ground that is cleansed by God’s purifying fire.  (Ex. 3)

Although, in our sinful state, we do not always see His burning lamp, God’s presence is ever before us.  In a brilliant “pillar of fire” He leads us through the world’s barren deserts (Ex 13:21-22).  Our footsteps are made sure as He lights the way that has been marked by His sacrifice.  His righteousness clears away the stones and obstacles that threaten to cause us to stumble, for His glorious Light shines ahead of us and our footsteps are made sure.

If we stray, the glory of the Lord appears like a beacon to guide us back onto His straight and narrow way.  In His jealousy, He feeds the furnace of His love for His children with His holiness, causing it to blaze brightly in the wilderness. He erects a flaming wall of protection that divides His foes who abide on the side of darkness and His children who rest on the other side in the Light of His safety (Ex 14:19-20).  His mighty hand plucks the feet of His faltering children from the licking flames of sin, and His own purifying fire heals their wounds.

Oh, to at last be led to His throne room where His eternal Light burns brightly!  For the darkness of sin to be forever consumed by His eternal flames!

Oh, to see the Lord’s glory!  His eyes blazing like a furnace, burning white with righteousness and holiness! (Rev 1:14-15)

“Arise, shine, for your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you!” (Is 60:1)  “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory!” (Is 60:19)

“Though [you] now sit in darkness, the Lord will be [your] Light..”  He will make you a brightly lit lamp so that those who come in can see the Light (Lk 8:16) and long to be in its cleansing rays!  (Matt 6:22)  For behold!  “The true Light that gives light to every man [has] come into the world” to lead men from the death of darkness and bring them into the glorious Light of Life!

"O beloved, do not be slow to return the hallowed flame of His love."  (C.H. Spurgeon)