Fire is a wonderful thing, especially when harnessed to produce positive results. My home furnace makes a cold winter day a pleasure, as long as the fire is contained. However, that same fire out of control would burn the house down. Even the sun’s “fire” is essential to life on earth; yet we’re told that if the sun were one mile closer to earth, we would burn to a crisp; if one mile farther out, we would freeze to death. How wonderful is God’s ingenious balance!
What about “heart-burn?” Many suffer from this digestive malady, which pains in the heart area. I’ve been thankful for “Tums” or other anti-acids during those times of discomfort. There’s also the issue of the wicked heart burning with lust, which can only be remedied by redeeming grace. But then there’s a condition in the believer’s life that could be called “spiritual heart-burn.” Is there not such a thing as having our hearts “burning” for Christ and His Word?
I’m reminded of an episode in Luke’s gospel, where Jesus encountered two men on the road to Emmaus. Having been just resurrected, He engages them in conversation, but they have no idea who He is. They are taken back by Christ’s “ignorance” as to the recent events in Jerusalem
When their narrative is finished, Jesus responds by rebuking their failure to believe the prophets who spoke of Messiah’s suffering for sin. Whereupon, Jesus, “Beginning at Moses and all the prophets…expounded unto them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself.” (Lk. 24:27)
They didn’t understand at this point, because their spiritual eyes had been “shut” (vs. 16). There they were, walking with the Christ of God and had no clue! That soon changed, however, when they invited Jesus to lodge with them. At the evening meal, He took bread and blessed it, and gave it to them. At that moment, their “eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” (vs.31)
Then Luke records their classic response: “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (vs.32) Not able to recognize the Living Christ before, now with open eyes, they are enthralled by this newly-found revelation of Him.
It’s important to notice how Jesus reveals Himself here. He “talked” with them, “while He opened…the Scriptures.” He didn’t just say, “Look at Me, I’m the Messiah!” Instead, He revealed Himself by expounding the prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament. Yes, He spoke to them through His Word. That method has never changed---it’s exactly what he does today
If we want to know who Christ is, it’s essential to devour His Word, the Bible. The only thing we know about Jesus Christ is what the infallible Word of God reveals. In addition, we must have the illuminating grace of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual eyesight and insight still comes only through the Savior Himself. Thus, David prayed: “Open thou mine eyes, that I might behold wondrous things out of thy Law.”
What resulted from such knowledge and spiritual sight? Yes, a good case of “heart burn!” These two disciples were radically moved to proclaim the “Good News,” out of the overflow of their burning hearts. They had been set on fire! Thankfully, we can still experience such “rekindling” or revival of heart in this challenging day.
Another similar example is the Prophet Jeremiah’s bout with depression. In the midst of severe suffering, he accuses the Lord of “deceiving him.” (Jer. 20:7) He didn’t anticipate such persecution in serving the Lord, who had called him. In his disillusionment, he declares that he will not again “make mention” of the Lord, “nor speak any more in his name.” In other words, he told God, “I’m not preaching any more---I quit!” Then something exciting happens in his soul:
“But His (God’s) word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (hold back).” (20:9)
The prophet’s determination to quit becomes a wearisome task; his desire to stop preaching is overcome by the insatiable fire of God’s word, burning in his heart! His depressed mind is once again delivered by the renewed revelation of Truth. He testifies, as the men on the Emmaus road, that his heart is burning with the word of God, and he cannot refrain from “letting it rip!”
So it goes when we’re intimately touched with the “fiery” Word of God. O, that we who follow Christ could experience such love for Him and His written Truth. Indeed, the Church today needs an epidemic of spiritual “heart-burn!”
If you’re reading this account, and have never been savingly joined to Christ, wouldn’t this be the time to seek Him? “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jno.3:16)
Receive Him as your Lord and Savior, and let Him give you a new heart (nature) that beats for God. The Word, the Bible, will begin to make sense; also, it will kindle a flame of devotion and purpose in your spirit that will never end.
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