Along the northern and central coast of California grows the Monterey Pine. It is referred to as a “closed cone pine” because unlike other pines whose cones open annually to distribute their seeds, the Monterey Pine cones may stay shut up tight for decades, waiting. What they wait for is fire.
This particular cone needs fire’s scalding heat to melt the resin that seals the seeds in it. Without the fire, the seeds would remain dormant and never distribute. Ironically, the very thing that releases the life in the cone also destroys the established forest. What a wonderful example of God’s dealings with us!
Often, our lives become established forests of our thoughts, habits, creeds and dogmas standing proudly, if not arrogantly, across the landscape of our hearts. This territory is where God wishes to establish a fresh forest, born of healthy seed. So, God brings fire.
Unfortunately, our “hell-fire” mentality often interprets this as God’s wrath, when in reality, it is just the opposite. The burning of our own old forest clears and prepares the soil of our hearts and causes good seed to be released and readily received in it.
I don’t know about you, but God is presently burning my stuff up, big time! It’s no picnic and Smokey the bear is nowhere to be found. It doesn’t take an arson investigator to see that this fire was intentionally set and meant to burn itself out. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of old dry fuel for it.
In all honesty, it’s hard to be thankful right now for the smoke and heat, but I’m confident, that soon, I will see new life sprouting from the ashes and then be able to look back and thank God for the fire. I’ve got to trust Him. He’s never, ever let me down even when He lights me up. That’s how dad’s do it. He’s a great Dad.
“For I reckon, that the sufferings of the present time, are not comparable with the glory which is to be developed in us.” – Paul to the Romans (Ch. 8, vv. 18)
