By Elizabeth Bankole
Fire does not just start. You can remove numerous fire hazards before a fire starts. Fire is very destructive to properties, but unfortunately, it can also cause death. It is, therefore, a smart move to look into what can spark fires in our lives before they start.
What is the dangerous fire in my life? The Bible calls the tongue fire. Recognizing these fire hazards helps you feel responsible for your spiritual health. Dryer lint buildup, as little as it is, can cause a fire if it is not removed regularly. In the same vein, you and I have to remove fire hazards from our lives regularly. It is essential, therefore, that you and I look into our lives and identify the fire hazards we constantly overlook that can turn into great destruction.
The hazards that can result in fire in our lives.
- The dirt in our hearts. The heart (mind,
- If the heart is dirty, the words coming out of the mouth will also be messy. The Bible says, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Matthew 12:34-37. What are the things that fill your heart? Just as the Fire Inspector will ask you to remove clutter like damaged cords, overloaded outlets, and faulty electronics to pass your inspection, so the LORD is asking you to allow the Word of God to do the same from your heart. A fire outbreak is dangerous not just to an individual but also to many people.
What are the dirty things of our hearts? If these dirty things are not removed, they can cause a fire that will consume lives through what we say. Some of them are: envy, deceit, pride, greed, covetousness, evil thoughts, jealousy, lust, moral recklessness, hardened heart, and so on. The LORD makes available for us His children the cleansing power to get rid of these dangerous explosives that are kept inside us. The cleansing power is the Word of God. How do I use the Word of God?
- As a daily shower soap for my heart. The Bible says, “so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God],” Ephesians 5:26. The Word of God is designed to cleanse the heart. Use it faithfully to remove the clutter from the heart. So read the Word daily to remove the dirt from the heart.
2. Anyone’s heart is essential because it is the very life that sustains. The heart (mind, will, and emotion) must be healthy if we are to be free of the danger of self-inflicted fire accidents. The heart must therefore be free of hazards, for healthy words that will not cause fire to come out of the mouth. There are some hazards so deeply rooted that only the Word of God can reach them. The Bible says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb. 4:12.
Think about the Bible as the Fire Inspector who values your safety and those around you. This Bible (the written Word) and Jesus (the Living Word) will reach where no discipline or training can get. When the surgical power of the Word penetrates the most hidden of our being, eliminating all the thoughts and attitudes that turn the tongue to a fire, we become healthy from within. The Word of God is alive and active, continually working in our minds, wills, and emotions, preparing the tongues of believers to speak life rather than chaos and death.
Since the journey of the tongue starts from the heart, Christians must be aware of the spiritual hygiene of their hearts. Evil words and attitudes are the natural products of an unclean heart, just as streams are the overflowing of the spring. Your words reveal who you are inside your heart. The condition of your heart is sent through your tongue in the form of spoken words. Your life will not be combustible material that can easily burn if your words are healthy.
The Bible says this about the tongue, “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the entire course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6.
So, oral communication can be as dangerous as explosives. Communication is the lifeblood of relationships. If there are constant conflicts in a home, church, community, or workplace, it is because the hearts of the people involved need to be examined. Destructive fire must be replaced with healing words. Be intentional about cleansing all the fire hazards in your hearts. If the Word of God constantly cleanses the hearts, the word of healing, peace, encouragement, and joy will be felt by everyone.
Say beautiful things to yourself. If the Word of God fills your heart, you will not be gripped by fear. You will think biblically instead of destructively. Be intentional. Removed fire hazards by the power of the scriptures. Be amazed as you listen to yourself. The Bible says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.
Conclusion
To avoid constant damage to lives and properties, therefore, let us remove fire hazards from our hearts by allowing the Bible (the written Word of God) and Jesus (the Living Word) to clean our hearts daily. This will save us from heartache and pain. The Bible says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Proverbs 4: 23-24.
Our country, our communities, our schools, our churches, and our homes will experience peace if Christians can allow the Bible to remove the fire hazards in our hearts. Jesus will then live His life through us, shining the light of Christ to everyone. We can start changing a toxic environment through our words into something more peaceful. Yes, the LORD will use you and me to make the world a better place to live through our words.
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