Whirlwind of Fire
Exodus 24:15-18 (ESV) 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Ezekiel 1:4 (NKJV) 4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
1. It would appear that everything that comes forth from heaven is a blaze with glorious fire.
1.1. The cloud of glory through the ages, could also be called the cloud of fire.
1.2. Moses when face shone when he came down from the mount being in God’s glorious fire.
1.3. Here in Ezekiel’s vision we see a whirlwind of raging fire.
1.4. The glory and the fire have taken the appearance of many different forms.
1.5. To one set of eyes this fire might look to be raging and all consuming yet to another radiant and beautiful in all it’s glory – both would be right.
1.6. To one it is just a bush on fire and yet to another it is the glory of God.
2. A sacrifice consumed by glory.
1 Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Romans 12:1 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
3. A life consumed with fire.
2 Kings 2:10-12 (NKJV) 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
3.1. Elijah’s life was a sacrifice.
3.2. Elijah was a man escorted away by a chariot of fire.
3.3. Horses and chariot of fire appeared to bring him home.
3.4. Yet just another picture of the glory of God.
3.5. Could be Elijah was actually just escorted by the glory of God.
4. The glory and fire of God separated them.
2 Kings 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
4.1. One’s work was finished.
4.2. Another work was just getting started.
4.3. My father my father – We are hardly ever ready for a loved one to cross over to the other side.
5. We are required to stay close.
2 Kings 2:10 (NKJV) So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
5.1. Have you asked any hard things lately.
5.2. If you see me then it shall be so
5.3. If not, it shall not be so
6. The refiners fire.
Revelation 3:18 (ESV) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV) 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
6.1. I counsel you:
6.2. We need the fire.
6.3. We want the fire.
7. One’s first thought when we arrive into glory might be – that the whole place is on fire.
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
7.1. There is no wait time as many of us grew up being told.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NKJV) 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
7.2. No purgatory as it is defined.
7.3. The escorting into glory is an instantaneous trip.
8. Man’s dwelling is with God.
Revelation 21:(ESV) 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV) 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
9. If only life was as well written as a poem or orchestrated as a symphony.
Isa. 57:(ESV) 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, (ESV) and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
It will take an eternity:
Embedded deep within our heart, eternity is calling from the very start. Come up higher we hear the call,
low we go to answer and revive the heart.
To the parking lot
A new life of hope,
from the lot,
A life which one must cope.
One must prepare.
for what lies before,
for few precious moments, that lie in-store.
Many lessons learned, Precious memories earned, hard struggles not to hold, though many go untold.
To think I am so different,
Then to be reminded
I was accepted when so very indifferent.
Fear grew
If he could have knew, When the moment came, fear took wings and blew.
How quickly things change,
from life’s little delicate glass,
in the blink of an eye,
being escorted first-class,
*let’s just have some ice in a glass.*
We are gifted eternal life,
Not one second earned,
And if that seems a bit too much, keep in mind this is not just luck.
If only, we could start out knowing, 50 years of loving and sowing, (Congratulations Mom)
With 25 more of reaping and going.
Oh, to be a child again,
“Where was he, did you take a pic,” No, we can’t see him go today,
But in that-day you will have your pick.
There is no getting bored in eternal glory, every moment of unceasing day,
will only be starting our eternal story.
It will take an eternity, To grasps His mercy.
An eternity to gaze An eternity to praise.
An eternity to comprehend.
An eternity to no longer have to pretend.
An eternity of gratitude.
An eternity of finally having the right attitude.
An eternity to contemplate the how, an eternity while our heart’s bow.
An eternity of new,
*Thank you Jesus*
because He is trustworthy and true.
An eternity to enjoy Jesus, As Jesus enjoys you.
Eternity draws near,
Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, who knew, shall we all be found waiting to begin anew.
Eternity awaits our soon arrival, However many minutes are remaining, Let us make sure our hearts are waiting!
Rev. 21:5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Eternity awaits our soon arrival,
How ever many minutes we have remaining,
Let us make sure our hearts are waiting!