Once-in-awhile, a burner on my stovetop “goes nova!” Unexplainably, it just gets super hot. Interestingly, it even glows! Needless to say, that makes it challenging to cook. As I ponder that frustrating phenomenon, I find myself reflecting about when life heats up and “goes nova!”
When life heats up, you must –
- Manage the heat.
- Address critical details.
- Try not to get burned.
- Maneuver as skillfully as possible.
- Pray for God’s help.
Have you ever gone nova?
When Life Heats Up
Life has basic principles. Here’s one. Heat tests things. Here’s another. Fire burns stuff. Nevertheless, heat keeps you warm. Heat makes your lunch and shower enjoyable. Equally, there’s a certain beauty in a good fire. It’s cozy and welcoming.
Still, heat can get quite uncomfortable – especially in life issues. Sometimes, that means –
- Avoid volatile conversations.
- Choose to change the subject and calm things down.
- Be a peace-maker.
- Always speak God’s truths.
- Be kind.
Of course, fire can be threatening and scary. So, you take precautions. Avoid certain scenarios. Be alert. Try to prevent issues.
Interestingly, when life heats up, you notice things in the fire that are often otherwise hidden. Heat and fire expose things like –
- Motives.
- Secrets.
- Focus.
- Behaviors
- Practiced patterns.
- Priorities.
- Purity.
- Dross.
So, God’s heat and fire can be spiritual tools to help you adopt healthy perspectives and better strategies to manage your heart.
Turn Up The Heat
You learn a lot about someone when the heat of life gets turned up. Similarly, you learn more about someone when they walk through a fire. About yourself.
Heat helps you discern what’s present in your life and your reactions. Pressures and stresses reveal what you are made of. Fiery trials expose and reveal character. Secrets suddenly glow.
Here’s a list of things that happen when life goes nova –
- Character reveals who you really are as you respond under pressure.
- Words hint at what abides in your heart.
- Behavior exposes your true colors.
- People see your heart as things cool down.
- What’s left? Something good and of value – or merely ash?
You Will Be Tested
Did you know your life will be tested by fire? “Sure,” you might say, “every day on this earth!”
Well, you’re not wrong about that. Life often feels like a huge, fiery test. Many hard things come along over your years:
- Disappointments show up.
- Stresses invade.
- Communication and relationships breakdown.
- Health issues rob you.
- Broken dreams break your heart.
- Broken hearts need healing.
- Financial losses sneak into your budget.
- Fiery trials of every imaginable kind burn up life resources.
These life fires are very different from another fire yet to come. The Bible talks about a fire of testing (measuring) for each child of God. This is not hell. Every Jesus follower will pass through this fire of testing.
Heb. 12:29 says, “God is a consuming fire.”
Ex. 24:17 says, “. . . the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.”
1 Pet. 1:7 says, “[Trials] have come so the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Therefore, the Scriptures suggest you will be refined by fire. Since God is a consuming fire, His nature – as it increasingly becomes yours as you yield to Him – will consume all that is contrary to Him.
Revealed And Exposed
Character is measured when life heats up. The history of your life will be looked at during the judgment of believers. God’s fire will test your life history. If it endures the fire, you will be rewarded. If it burns up, you will suffer loss.
Additionally, God’s fire will measure whether you are composed of gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw when life heats up. His consuming fire will measure what you have been building during the days of your life. What do you think happens to wood, hay, and straw?
What kind of character are you practicing? Which elements have you been using to build your life? Any wood, hay, or straw?
A Foundation That Won’t Burn Up
God has already laid a foundation for you – on Jesus. It’s solid and trustworthy. Resolved believers build their lives on this foundation. They are “living stones.” (1Pet. 2:5)
You, too, are a living stone. Are you building on the solid foundation God provides that will never be consumed?
God helps you transfer your entire life structure over onto His reliable foundation. Here’s how:
- Trust and obey God.
- He simply “moves it all over” to His steady, reliable, undestroyable base.
- He promises – if you build your life on the “chosen and precious Cornerstone . . . [you] will never be put to shame.” (1 Pet. 2:6)
Your foundation needs to be built on Jesus Christ to be safe when life heats up.
Action Points When Life Heats Up
When things heat up in your day, remember to build with materials that will last forever.
- First, humble your heart before God.
- Second, submit to the testing of fire as it reveals your character.
- Third, remember – every day is “training day” as you walk with God.
- Fourth, ask Jesus to help you build new, better patterns and habits in Christ.
- Then, let go of unhealthy things you are hanging onto – anger, bitterness, fear, pride, disappointment, a broken body or heart, an over-indulged sense of justice, etc.
- Finally, trust Jesus to transfer everything over to His firm foundation. He is eternally committed to your growth in godly character.
Rejoice! Rest! Relax! Renew!
An Honest Heart When Life Heats Up
You can’t grow if you are not sincere or honest. No amount of explanation, diversion, disclaimer, or excuse can change results of the test of fire. Be honest with God about everything –
Your temper.- Impatience.
- A tendency to judge others.
- Any lack of diligence and resolve.
- Listening to messages that doubt God.
- Leanings toward deceptive communication.
- Lazy responses.
- Doubting God cares about your situation.
You have options. Don’t stay stuck in unhealthy patterns. Listen intently to God’s whisperings. God will not yell, force, or pin you down. Scripture says,
“. . . you will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ “ (Is. 30:21) God is committed to guide you and nurture you. Plus, He promises to be very close when life heats up. Believe this.
“. . . after the fire came a gentle whisper..” (1 Kings 19:12b) God wants to bring you through the fire. Listen to His gentle whisper. He is near. Believe this.
“When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Is. 43:2) You’ll never be alone. God will walk with you and preserve you. Believe this.
God power transforms your character when life heats up. He works. You work. You are partners.
Nothing replaces godly character. Build strong character by connecting immediately with Christ in every scenario.
Your Response
God empowers and changes you – if you –
- First, open your heart – and your entire life – to Him.
- Then, yield every response you have to His ways.
- Next, trust God to refine your life and extract impurities in your character.
- Plus, believe He’ll give you His strength to endure.
- Also, desire Jesus.
- Practice Christ-like character.
- Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Without fail, apply His Word and claim His promises.
- Act justly.
- Love mercy. Don’t seek revenge. Don’t set the record straight. God will.
- Finally, walk humbly with God. (Mic. 6:8)
Jer. 29:11 says, “I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”
Daily fiery trials measure your character. Trials expose your character. Troubles test the stability of your foundation. Build on Jesus. Always do good. Subsequently, be like Christ.
Walk with God. Then ” . . . when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Is. 43:2b) God is faithful.
Application Thoughts And Questions
God’s fire will expose all things one day. Consequently, the very elements of your life will be exposed. Ponder these ideas –
- How do you usually respond when life heats up?
- When God tests your life, how much ash will there be?
- What regular patterns are you practicing?
- Plus, what character do you practice when life heats up?
- Specifically, what needs to change to keep your responses like Christ’s?
- Critically, are you committed to needed changes?
- Finally, when you are right with God, be assured you will pass through God’s holy fire. And God covers you.
* Portions of this content came from my book – e-Pistles For An i-Generation Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
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