Too often we imagine a stagnant God. We assume that if we come to him all will be bubbling streams and chirping birds on an English countryside. But this is far from what Scripture tells us about our Consuming Fire.

Jesus shows us the Father. And there he is one moment touching lepers; the next walking on water; the next banishing demons into swine; the next riding roughshod over the Pharisees’ sabbath; the next flipping tables in the temple. We forget that the disciples had to keep up with him. We forget that we have to keep up with him.

Christ had and has no problem making his followers lives uncomfortable. It is not that he makes our lives a drudgery, not at all; neither does he place meaningless burdens upon us. But he does keep getting into the fray, not only a conflict mind you, but a conflict on the move, a difficulty that is going somewhere. And on every page of this adventure novel we find the subtext —”Remember Lot’s Wife.” It is always blood on the doorpost or death’s angel, through the Red Sea or Pharaoh’s chariots, into Canaan’s Land or die in the dessert.
Going back is not an option. Standing still isn’t either. But can you really go forward? There’s not only storms ahead, but bigger ones. There’s not only sacrifices out there in front of you, but greater sacrifices than you’ve yet made. And just when you’re thinking there’s no energy left, when you’re about to call it quits, your King rides ahead with a laugh, saying, “Follow me.”

There’s no use delaying. There’s no use doubting. Our King won’t have any of that.