A few months ago, I posted what I thought was a simple definition of who Jesus is with scripture references as evidence.  The simple handwritten message, with an unknown author, caught my attention.  I copied and passed the message on through social media because this simple explanation of Jesus versus self is extremely significant in this climate and season of self in our world today.  However, I never imagined how this would stir people so incredibly and profoundly.  This message was shared over 12,000 times at last count!  But the message also stirred fiery debates among those who despise Jesus and all He teaches.  They were adamantly opposed to who Jesus is, calling Him a liar and a narcissist with dark language and attitudes.  The believers stood up to reason with the darkness and the debate fired up. 

Should I delete the message? I thought about it briefly but then realized that the conversations needed to be expressed in open forum.  As I watched people reply from both sides, most of those who replied as believers responded with love for those who did not. Believers in Jesus expressed how God had helped them in their lives so miraculously that they just could not deny His existence.  Those in the dark would not give up self.  Those in the Light would not give up Jesus.  The fire was set.  The debate was on.

The message is here for you to consider.

Luke 12, The Message

Start a Fire

^49-53 “I’ve come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to change everything, turn everything rightside up—how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I’ve come to disrupt and confront! From now on, when you find five in a house, it will be—

Three against two,
    and two against three;
Father against son,
    and son against father;
Mother against daughter,
    and daughter against mother;
Mother-in-law against bride,
    and bride against mother-in-law.”

^54-56 Then he turned to the crowd: “When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, ‘Storm’s coming’—and you’re right. And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, ‘This’ll be a hot one’—and you’re right. Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don’t tell me you can’t tell a change in the season, the God-season we’re in right now.

^57-59 “You don’t have to be a genius to understand these things. Just use your common sense, the kind you’d use if, while being taken to court, you decided to settle up with your accuser on the way, knowing that if the case went to the judge you’d probably go to jail and pay every last penny of the fine. That’s the kind of decision I’m asking you to make.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus started this debate while He was on earth.  He came to heal and forgive, to ease the pain of bondage of sin and oppression, yes, but He ultimately came to change lives forever!  “Turn back to God” was the song the Singer sang. 

Jesus set a fire in the souls of those who followed Him which served to confront, confound, and disrupted those who did not.  The religious leaders were so overcome by the darkness they could no longer see God and were self-motivated in all they thought, said, and did.  Jesus points out to them their knowledge of the weather changing with each season by watching the skies and seeing the signs.  Jesus tells them to watch for the signs of God for now it’s a new God-season where the winds of Truth are blowing in with new life for all who follow the Light.

Jesus presents two choices.  We can believe in Jesus, repent to the One who forgives all our sins, and trust in God’s teaching through Him as the best way to live life—or not.  What is paramount is that the fire had been started with Jesus coming to earth to seek and to save the lost. Jesus has come to confront and disrupt self-led people because it is God’s will and desire that no one perish in the fires of darkness but believe and be saved by the Light for eternity.  We are either with God or against God.  There is no neutral ground. 

Lord,

This is my prayer this morning:  Start a fire in my soul…even though…

This world can be cold and bitter
Feels like we’re in the dead of winter
Waiting on something better
But am I really gonna hide forever?
Over and over again
I hear Your voice in my head
Let Your light shine, let Your light shine for all to see

Start a fire in my soul
Fan the flame and make it grow
So there’s no doubt or denying
Let it burn so brightly
That everyone around can see
That it’s You, that it’s You that we need
Start a fire in me

In Jesus Name, Amen, I believe.

(Start a Fire, Songwriter, Michael David Rosenberg)