Residing in the Fire IV - Fire Please!

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: - 2 Tim 2:12

The above scripture compares 2 fires if you really look at it.

1. The Fire of Suffering

2. The Fire of God's Denial

The first fire, speaks to the trials and tribulations we will endure in this life. In truth, many of us go through many things daily. There is so much happening around us. These things don't always make sense either, but that doesn't stop them from happening. Some times, we can't tell why individuals respond to us the way they do, but they still do. Fire is all around. However, this particular fire is a gift.

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: - 2 Thess 1:4-5

When we suffer for Christ sake, our reward in heaven. Most of us today are not being beaten and bruised, however we go through situations, circumstances and relationships that seek to discourage us in our faith. However, when these come, know that God has allowed them to happen because He deems you righteous enough to contend for the faith. He trusts you to stand in the midst of the fire, and love anyhow. He trust you to abide in Him, and allow Him to feed you peace as you feed His purpose. This fire, is a blessing from God, necessary to enter the Kingdom; not to be prayed away.

When Christ denies you, it is something totally different.

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. - Jude 1:7

When you are denied of Christ, you are sent into eternal fire. Your destination is the lake of fire. If you reject the fires of suffering, the fires of hell is inevitable. The truth is, we must all face fire, but which one will you choose? As for me, I prefer to be scorched now by a fire that Jesus will out, that at the end of it all I will be with Him in glory.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. - Rom 8:18