Christian, Fire Up!
By Lois J. Stucky (1928 – 2014)
[Editor’s Note: One of the blessings in the Herald office since our dear sister Lois went to be the Lord has been the privilege of reading through some of the early articles she wrote for Herald of His Coming. The following one is from March 1972 when the office was located in California.]
As I stood warming my hands before the Herald of His Coming office fireplace the other day, the lively fire blazing there seemed to speak to me: "See how full of life and energy I am! Feel the invigorating warmth I send out. See the pure light and beauty I give forth. Christ wants the hearts of His own flaming so!"
I remember how pleased we were when we moved into the desert office and saw the old-fashioned, stone fireplace there. "This just suits us," we said. "‘Economize to evangelize’ is one of our mottoes. This will help cut our gas bill.
"The crackling flames and the smell of burning juniper will give a homey, heartwarming atmosphere to the office – just like the spirit we want in our hearts as we do our work," we said – for while we try to be efficient and "not slothful in business" as we go about our office duties (Rom. 12:11), we ever want to be rendering heart service to our Christian brothers and sisters around the world.
We soon found that it takes quite some effort to keep a fire blazing. Brother Castersen took the responsibility of scouting around for stumps and logs to burn. Then it took a good many hefty blows of his ax to cut them to fireplace size. After that, he and Brother Joe Levens hauled them in and stacked them in the closet.
No matter how bright and blazing the fire that we light on a cold morning, it soon dies down if it is neglected. Sister Helen Coe is usually the thoughtful one to keep a watchful eye on the fire and to add fuel so the fire will blaze on and on and keep the room warm.
"Christ wants hearts aflame," the fire seemed to speak again to me as I stood musing there. "He wants hearts where the flame kindled by the Holy Spirit is continually stoked by Bible reading and prayer. He wants hearts where the blaze burns on no matter what stormy blasts Satan sends to put out. He wants hearts that let not sin turn a bright blaze into dying embers."
Oh, for the Holy Spirit’s fire in our hearts in these closing days of time! Never ought we to forget the Bible warning that in the last days, the love of many will wax cold! (Matt. 24:12). If our spiritual temperature is low, let us fire up!
"Oh that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at Thy presence. As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make Thy name known to Thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Thy presence!" (Isa. 64:1-2).
It is our purpose as we send out Herald of His Coming every month, that it might be a kindling spark in many hearts – to light a revival fire, to stoke the flames already burning, to fortify against the blasts of Satan, to warn against the sin that can so quickly douse the flame.
Will you, praying friends, pray on and on with us, for more of the Holy Spirit’s fire in the Herald papers – that the messages will burn deeper and accomplish more of the cleansing, purifying, arousing work they are sent to do?
Christians, NOW is our hour of opportunity! God is moving by His Spirit here and there – wanting to do great and gracious things! Let us move with Him! Let us pray and believe. Let us do all we can to stir ourselves and to stir others up for revival!