Casting Fire on the Earth

Yesterday I touched on the benefits of forest fire to some seedlings. Some seeds need forest fire to germinate. It is simply amazing the way our Creator put nature in motion.

I would like to look at fire a bit more today. First, is the following a true statement?: Fire makes water.

Think about that for a moment as we look at a few fire-related stories, starting first with a very good burn.

The 1666 Great Fire of London destroyed 80 percent of the city but, it also ended an outbreak of bubonic plague that had killed more than 65,000 people the previous year! The fire obliterated the rodents and fleas that had carried and spread the plague.

I ran across information on the Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin. I had never heard of it before and was surprised by its facts. That fire was the second deadliest blaze in United States history, claiming 1,200 lives. In fact, it killed four times the number of people as the Great Chicago Fire. But get this, both conflagrations broke out on the same day: October 8, 1871.

The ancient Greeks started fire with concentrated sunlight. And did you know a parabolic mirror that focuses solar rays is still used to ignite the Olympic torch? I did not, until today. Actually, there are several things I did not realize about the Olympics until this morning.

I was aware that the Olympic torch is lit several months before the start of the actual games and that a relay of people keeps it burning and moving all around the world.

I sort of remember the flame beginnings its journey at the site of the original Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece. The rest, I guess was not important to me because I do not remember it being lit, just as it was in ancient times, at the Temple of Hera.

An actress dressed as a ceremonial priestess, in the robes of the ancient Greeks, lights the torch with the same technique used in the original Games. She uses a parabolic mirror to focus light rays from the sun. The parabolic mirror has a curved shape. When it is held toward the sun, the curvature focuses the rays to a single point. The energy from the sun creates a great deal of heat. The priestess holds a torch in the center of the parabolic mirror, and the heat ignites the fuel in the torch, sparking a flame.

The flame is carried in a fire pot to an altar in the ancient Olympic stadium, where it is used to light the first runner's torch. Then, the relay begins.

Fire. Did you know you can start fire with ice? It’s a bit of a trick statement but according to survival-manual dot com, all you need is a 6 inch long by 3-inch-thick chunk of ice shaped into a lens. Then simply use it like a magnifying glass to start a flame.

It is also possible to start a fire with water. Find a small, clear glass bowl or tea cup or measuring cup and line it with clean plastic wrap. Fill the bowl or cup with water. Gather each of the plastic corners of the top. This will form a little liquid pouch. By twisting the corners together, you can seal the water inside. Use your “water pouch” to focus the sun on a dark piece of paper. It should start smoking. So, yes a bit of a trick question, but you can start fire with water.

And for today’s question: can fire make water? Yes. One small example is this: place a cold spoon over a candle and you can see water vapor condensing on the metal. I know, it’s a stretch.

Yesterday I quoted Luke 12:49. “I came to cast fire on the earth…”

Jesus had been speaking to His disciples, as “an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another”.

Jesus warned of hypocrisy, He spoke about not worrying, He told them of the importance of teaching and preaching Christ to all peoples; and the someone from the crowd spoke up: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Oh-oh.

Family troubles are brewing.

Someone got more and someone got less. Someone is satisfied; someone is not.

And then Jesus spoke:

“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” “Then He spoke a parable to them, saying:

“The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’

“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:14-21 NKJV

The story continues with Jesus turning back to His disciples and encouraging them to not worry about their life, what they will eat or what they will wear. He urges them too not be anxious. And then we drop down to verse 49: “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”

Kindled.

Kindle, kindled, kindling. To start a fire, cause a flame, blaze, to begin burning. And that is exactly what Jesus came to do. He continues in verse 50:

“But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Luke 12:50-53 NKJV

Jesus knew what believing in Him would do to families. It caused division then, it causes division now, but He invites all, “come, follow me.” He wants our hearts to burn with passion for Him just like the disciples experienced on the road to Emmaus. More tomorrow. But for today, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit start a fire in our soul.

Start a Fire - Unspoken

This world can be cold and bitter

Feels like we're in the dead of winter

Waiting on something better

But am I really gonna hide forever?

Over and over again

I hear Your voice in my head

Let Your light shine, let Your light shine for all to see

Start a fire in my soul

Fan the flame and make it grow

So there's no doubt or denying

Let it burn so brightly

That everyone around can see

That it's You, that it's You that we need

Start a fire in me…

by Jeanette Stark – Wednesday, June 14, 2023