One of the great things about the seasons of Fall and Winter is the cool weather. Along with this weather comes the startup of the woodstove. I love the smell of burning wood on a crisp Fall day. There is nothing like it. The dry warmth that it produces in the house is quite cozy. One of the challenges with a woodstove is not allowing the fire to go out. Once it goes out, the heat stops, and it becomes again a challenge to get the fire started again.
God set up the Old Testament Tabernacle and He did not want the fire to go out. As a matter of fact, the fire was to be burning all of the time and was never allowed to go out. This called for constant vigil by the priests, and diligence throughout all hours of the day.
Leviticus chapter six records this principle: “And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; is shall not be put out”
“The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” verses 12-13
Why did God not want this fire to go out? What are the lessons that you and I can learn from this truth? Here are three reasons why God did not want the fire to go out:
The Fire on the altar burning continually allowed there to be continual access to the Lord God through the sacrificial system.
- Fire of Forgiveness: There was always the fire burning to offer up a sacrifice to receive the forgiveness of sins. God is always ready to hear the prayer of the person who desires to be cleansed from his or her sins!
- Fire of Fellowship: God always desired to be in fellowship with His people. He provided a way where by the fellowship could always be restored. Praise the Lord for I John 1:9, allowing the believer to come back into real fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ at any time!
- Fire of Faithfulness:Constant fire upon the alter speaks of the faithfulness of God. He will always be there to hear the prayer of those who come unto Him with the sacrifice of a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart. Psalm 51
The Old Testament priests were diligent in not letting the fire go out. How about you and I? Are we letting the fire be constantly burning upon the altar of our hearts?
Take these important steps…
1. Don’t Forget the Lord–Keep musing upon Him and you will find the fire burning in your heart!
2. Stay Focused upon the Lord–Your relationship with Him is the primary relationship in this and the next world!
3. Stay in Fellowship with Him–Keep the sin confessed and stay in a right relationship, walking in the light.
4. Stay Faithful to Him–When many disciples are forsaking Him, loving this present world-stay faithful. Jesus still asks the question, “Will ye also go away?”
Eli the Priest seemed to have allowed the lamp of God to go out. Because of this, God had to begin to seek a Samuel. Samuel arose up and cried, “Here am I Lord.”
How about you today? Will you keep the fire on the altar of your heart burning?