A fire can spread devastation in a matter of minutes or it can spread warmth and light that will last an eternity.
On October 8, 1871 in a barn on the southwest side of Chicago, a fire started and burned for 3 days destroying over 17,000 buildings and killing over 300 people. It devastated the city destroying an area over 4 miles long and a mile wide. It left nearly 1/3 of the city homeless, that is over 90,000 people. Early in the fire the waterworks building was burned to the ground causing chaos as there was now no water to fight the fire. What damage a fire can cause, when it is uncontrolled and feuled by chaos.
In 1877 in the same city Colonel George Clarke and His wife Sarah, after guidance from the Lord, opened a mission they would later name the Pacific Garden Mission. She described it as a small room with a fire in a pot bellied stove to keep the cold out and kerosene lamps that burned a flickering light so you could read the Heartwarming Bible verses that graced the walls speaking eloquently of God’s love. Pacific Garden Mission is the oldest surviving and possibly the most well known rescue mission in the world. Seeing tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands souls saved through the fire that warmed the hearts of millions of souls that have passed through Pacific Garden Mission. Not even mentioning the millions touched through their outreach efforts such as unshackled. Possibly one of the greatest sparks that burned revival and salvation through our nation was when a professional Baseball player was saved through the efforts of men from the mission. Their efforts sparked a fire and the burning of the Holy Spirit in the life of a young man named Billy Sunday. One of the greatest evangelist of the early 1900's. What warmth and light have come from the saving grace of God through the fire of a potbellied stove and kerosene lamps. James, the half brother of Jesus, said this: James 3:5-6 NASB1995 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
What devastation can come from the chaotic flapping of an uncontrolled tounge that flings embers of coal that burns from hell and defiles the life of people without Christ. Plus hinders the life of those who are weak in Christ. However, that same tongue when controlled and used to spread the gospel of Christ can provide burning coals of salvation. That are delivered from God through the Holy Spirit. They will ignite a fire of excitement that will warm the cold heart and light up the night sky to give Glory to God and bring peace in a world of chaos.
You see the difference of the fire that we spead out with our tongue all depends upon if it is coals of chaos uncontrolled and ignited by the hate of Satan, or if it is coals of the Gospel spread through the fire of the Son in His successful and calculated effort to save souls.
Let's seek to spread the fire of Salvation.
Love Bro. Scott