The TV show Survivor has aired for 48 seasons. If you aren’t familiar with the show, it is a reality program with contestants of all races, genders, ages, and walks of life. They are dropped into a remote area, usually an island, where they must survive off the land, as well as outwit, outplay, and outlast the other contestants. Each episode, one person is voted out, and the “Sole Survivor” wins. Central to every episode is fire. They need it to survive. The host of the show often says, “On this show, fire represents life.” When someone is voted out that person’s fire (torch) is snuffed out.
Fire is an element that can be used for many things. There are survival, as well as practical uses, such as cooking, boiling water, providing warmth, light, and protection. Fire is used in art and crafting to shape and purify metals, to make and form glass, and to harden wood and make charcoal. Fire is also used as a decoration of sorts – a backdrop for a peaceful evening alone, or a centerpiece for fellowship with friends.
The Bible uses fire as a metaphor for God’s presence, holiness, judgment, and purification. God Himself led the Israelites through the desert as a pillar of fire. Jesus is described in Revelation as having “eyes like flames of fire”, and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the 3-in-1 God, are described in Hebrews 12:29 (quoting Deuteronomy 4:24) as a “consuming fire”.
The apostle Paul was Timothy’s most integral spiritual mentor. He writes a letter to Timothy saying he receives joy because of Tim’s “sincere faith”. In 2 Timothy 1:5-6, Paul reminds Tim of his family history of deep faith in his mother and grandmother. Paul also mentions his own teaching and training of Timothy in the ways of Jesus Christ. Paul draws on the characteristics of fire as he paints a picture of “next steps” for young Timothy. He tells Timothy, “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you”. Tim’s mentors offered him a spark from their own spiritual fires. He was to grow that spark into a fire that would be warmth and provision for himself and others.
Paul relates the spark to the “gift of God”, which Paul points out that Timothy already has. Paul alludes to the fact that in creating a roaring spiritual fire, it doesn’t just happen. It is an intentional process. A spark must be fed and fanned to give it the necessary air and fuel to produce a flame. That flame must then be carefully tended and fed so it doesn’t fade, but instead, grows stronger.
We accept the gift of grace from God, then we must fan, tend, and protect it.
These practices grow the gift of God’s grace in our own lives, drawing others to His life-giving light and warmth. Hopefully, they catch a spark. Then, we encourage them to fan their flame!
