Spontaneous Combustion
There is an event that is supposed to be true, but it appears to be possibly more mythological than real, but anyway it is fun to play with for this Article. Allegedly, people disappear, and when you go to their homes their shoes are just filled with ash, as if they had just spontaneously combusted in an instant, whether true or not, let us play with this concept. There is a “Parable,” and it goes somewhat like this; the Lord of the Manor was one bitterly cold winters night, settling before his blazing fire, trying to read more of a book that he was valiantly trying to complete. The servants had all long before gone to bed, the clock was loudly ticking in the silence, and he was soon to follow, to crawl deeply under the warmth of the thick covers, when an odd sound in the yard keep repeating, not an animal or a bird, but what was out there in the snow? He put his book down, arose and pulled the heavy drapes back, and there in the yard was a poor traveler, sloshing petrol all over himself trying to keep warm. Quickly he rushed out, and aided the man into the Library, he quickly put another log on the fire, and beckoned the poor waif to come and to sit close, and to warm up and to dry out, close up to the fire. Good suggestion, well not really, but spontaneous combustion is assured.
Zechariah 14:12 “And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” This verse appears to look just like our “Spontaneous Combustion,” as they are consumed to nothing before they can even fall over. If you have ever been in Aussie in “Bush Fire Season,” and fought the enemy, you will know that in-front of the fire, a tree just before you will suddenly burst into flames, and in mere seconds, the leaves are all consumed in a gigantic fire ball, that is gone almost as fast as it came, and the dry branches and twigs are left smoldering and burning, as the flash of fire has gone, leaping forwards to the next tree, sometimes some distance away.
Revelation 20:9-10 “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Genesis 19:28 “And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. Malachi 4:3 “And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts.” In a “Bush Fire,” predominantly, smoke is your friend, for smoke means that the flames are past, firstly stop the flames, and the fire stops spreading, then come back and sort out the smoky bits, and branches and logs burning, and you have pretty much won the war, just watch for any “Flare ups,” and pray for showers of rain to completely put out the fire. Ashes under feet are the food for a re-generation, new life hidden under foot will soon abound, and the evidence of the fire will soon be erased from view with abundant new-life.
2 Samuel 22:13-15 “Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.” Song of Solomon 8:6 “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame.” Ezekiel 1:13 “As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.” Ezekiel 28:14 -16 “Thou [Satan] [art] the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.”
Now there is a common theory that Hell is an ever burning fire, and that the Devil and his supporters are busily tending to the punishing of fallen humans. Let us stop and consider this, “Who is the worst sinner, Satan or humans?” so how come the one who sinned the least is being punished the most by those who are the worst sinners, who seem to be immune from punishment, and are continuing to afflict punishment upon the lost? The theory destroys itself, and is “Pagan” and not scriptural. Ecclesiastes 9:5 “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Psalm 146:1-4 “Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” John 11:11 “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”
So the dead know not anything until resurrected, the final punishment of sin is being turning to ashes, to grow grass and plants, and if anybody is ever to live in a world of fire and flames, scripture portrays this as actually being the home of God and the redeemed Saints, God is often portrayed as being clothed in flames of fire. Let us stop sinning (sloshing ourselves in the petrol of sin) as when we come to God, his fire will not “Spontaneously Combust” us and we would then instantly cease to exist forever. Let us live by scripture, close to God, warmed by his love and forgiveness, sin free and fireproof. So are you going to become ash and fertilizer, or are you going to; “But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
