Christians are like matches:
- When a Christian has just been saved, there is a typically a lot of energy just like when a match is first struck. That match has the capability to start a raging fire or it can continue to consume the same fuel and eventually burn out.
- A Christian that is frustrated or who has no one to help guide them or who tries to do it on his own or who just
does not fully understand the word or who is so involved in the world that the daily things bother them will eventually be the one to burn out. - The Christian who hears the word, understands it, has others to help guide, and who is extremely excited will the be the one that can start a raging fire.
- With all raging fires, they will eventually become embers unless they are constantly fed fuel to consume. A Christian that has matured may be the one that has burned down to embers. They could restart a fire, but typically they are just warm enough to keep from burning completely out.
This is just like the parable of the sower:
Matthew 13 New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The goal for all of us should
Where are you in your relationship and desire to be with God? Do you want others to experience the same things you are?
I pray that you have a great relationship with God and God can use you in a way that will bring others to Him.