Words by our Priest-in-Charge:

Refining Fire or Consuming Fire?

“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.” (Mark 9:49)

I have been sharing at our staff meetings on Mark recently. On Thursday morning, I shared with the staff on Mark 9-10, in particular, verse 49. Jesus said these words after His warning to His disciples about the severe consequences of sins. He warned the disciples that it is better for them to cut off the sinning part of a person’s body than keep sinning and suffer the consequences of hell. Verse 49 as recorded by Mark, was intended to be read in continuation from the preceding verses.

We often hear that “No one is perfect”. How true. Jesus, I am sure, knew that as a fact when He said those words in Mark 9:49. Since everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), everyone therefore will “attract” the seasoning through fire. This fire that Jesus talked about was not necessary the consuming fire of God’s judgment. Because Jesus also subsequently said, ..”every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt”. This fire obviously also implies a refining fire, the refining that comes through self-discipline and repentance in response to our sins, a conscious effort to look sins in the eye and take them seriously, a response to the warning and correction from the Lord. Refining fire brings out the best that is hidden in us, concealed under unrefined characters, marred by sins. Its purpose and intent is not to harm, destroy or judge, but to build up, restore and strengthen, so that God’s glory might be seen in us.

A consuming fire, on the other hand is the fire of God’s judgment. It comes to the unrepentant. The same fire that comes from the Lord in our lives on this side of eternity could be either a refining fire or a consuming fire. The factor determines it is our response. If we respond in a godly manner in humility, repentance and self discipline, the refining fire will mold us into the man or woman whom God desire us to be. If we respond in hardheartedness, in pride and contempt towards God, the consuming fire will come upon us as God’s judgment.

The Lord’s heart towards sinners has always been compassionate and gracious. It is our response which will determine the outcome of our future. The decision we make in response to God’s word is of paramount importance, it could set us apart for greatness, or it could cause us to walk contrary to God’s will and purpose for our life.

The choice, really, is ours.

炼火或烈火？

“因为必用火当盐腌各人。（有古卷加：凡祭物必用盐腌。”（马可福音9：49）

最近我都有向我们的同工分享马可福音。在一个星期四的早上，我向同工们分享到马可福音9至10章，特别是在第49节。耶稣对祂门徒说这些话是要警惕他们罪的后果。耶稣说宁可割去那犯罪的肢体比继续犯罪及承受后果还要好。马可在第49节所记载的目的是要继续之前的经文。

我们经常都会听到“没有人是完美的”。真的吗？我相信耶稣都认为透祂在马可福音9：49所说的是事实。既然每个人都犯罪了及亏欠了神的荣耀（罗马书3：23），每个人都会经过火炼的时期。这火不一定是指着神审判的烈火。因为耶稣过后又说到“当盐腌各人”。这火很明显的是说道炼火，透过自律和悔改所连净的，视罪为严重的事情，从神而来的纠正和警惕的回应。炼火把我们的最好的潜能、被罪阴盖的潜能激发出来。它的原来目的不是要伤害或毁坏或审判我们，而是要建立我们、恢复我们、使我们刚强，所以我们能够反映神的荣耀。

烈火在另一方面是神的审判。向那些不悔改的火。那从神而来的同一个火可以是炼火或烈火。决定性的因素是我们的反应。如果我们以谦卑的心、忏悔及自律的莱反应，那炼火能够塑造我们成为神所喜悦的子民。如果我们以坚硬的心、骄傲及鄙视的心来回应神，那审判的烈火将临到我们身上。

神对于罪人的心永远都是充满怜悯和恩典的。这都是以我们的回应来决定我们前方的路程。这回应神话语的决定是非常重要的，因为它能够把我们分别出来，或会引导我们走反神旨意和标杆的生活。

选择，都是在我们手里。