Part 11 – The Fire That Would Not Go Out
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them
out of my hand." John
10:27–28 (ESV)
Having
shown Christian the difference between Passion and Patience, the Interpreter
leads him into another room, where he is presented with a most remarkable
sight. Christian sees a fire burning against a wall while a man stands before
it, continually casting water upon the flames. Everything about the scene
suggests the fire should soon be extinguished, yet the opposite happens. The
more water is poured upon it, the more brightly it burns. As with the previous
lessons, Bunyan offers no explanation at first. He simply presents the picture
and leaves both Christian and the reader to consider what they have seen.
Why would
Bunyan place this lesson before Christian? Throughout the Interpreter's House,
every room has unfolded a spiritual truth firmly rooted in the Scriptures. The
portrait taught Christian how to recognise a faithful servant of Christ. The
dusty room revealed that the Law exposes sin but cannot cleanse the heart.
Passion and Patience showed the difference between living for present pleasures
and waiting for the inheritance God has promised. This scene now introduces
another truth that every pilgrim must learn before continuing the journey.
At first,
the picture seems to make little sense. Fire and water cannot coexist for long.
Common experience tells us that if enough water is poured on a fire, the flames
will eventually die. Yet Bunyan deliberately reverses what nature teaches us.
The enemy appears to have every advantage, yet despite his continual efforts,
the fire refuses to go out. The explanation only comes when the Interpreter
invites Christian to look behind the wall. There he sees another man, hidden
from view, continually pouring oil on the same fire. What had seemed impossible
suddenly becomes perfectly clear. The fire continues to burn because another
work is taking place that Christian cannot see.
The
Interpreter explains that the fire represents the work of grace within the
heart of the believer. The man casting water upon it represents the devil, who
continually seeks to quench that work through temptation, persecution, doubt
and discouragement. The One standing behind the wall is Christ Himself,
secretly sustaining His people by His grace. Satan sees the fire, but he does
not see the hand that preserves it. Christian sees the attack, but he does not
immediately see the One who is ensuring that the fire will never be
extinguished.
There is
another thought that may be worth considering. Throughout the Scriptures, fire
is often associated with the work of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist declared
that Christ would baptise "with the Holy
Spirit and fire" (Matthew
3:11), and on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples with
"divided tongues as of fire" (Acts 2:3). Bunyan does not tell us that the fire
represents the Holy Spirit, and we should be careful not to say more than the
Scriptures or Bunyan himself allow. Nevertheless, it is difficult to overlook
the connection. The work of grace burning within the believer is the work of
the Holy Spirit, and it is Christ who continually sustains that gracious work.
Does this
not bring to mind the words of our Lord?
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them
out of my hand." John
10:27–28 (ESV)
Jesus does
not say that His sheep will never face danger. On the contrary, He speaks of
wolves, thieves and robbers throughout this discourse. Yet in the midst of
every threat, He gives His people an unshakeable assurance. They belong to Him,
and because they belong to Him, no power is able to remove them from His hand.
Their security rests, not in their ability to hold on to Christ, but in
Christ's determination to hold on to them.
The Apostle
Paul expresses the same confidence when writing to the Philippians.
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will
bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians
1:6 (ESV)
Notice
where Paul's confidence rests. He does not point believers to their own
strength, their own faithfulness or their own perseverance. He directs them to
God, who begins the work and who also completes it. The Christian life begins
by grace, continues by grace and will one day be perfected by grace. Left to
ourselves, the fire would long ago have gone out. It continues to burn because
Christ continually supplies what His people need.
Perhaps
this explains why Bunyan places this lesson before Christian reaches the Cross.
The pilgrimage will not be easy. There will be trials, disappointments, fierce
temptations and determined opposition. Before Christian encounters those
realities, the Interpreter reminds him that there is always more taking place
than human eyes can see. Behind every trial stands a faithful Saviour who
neither slumbers nor sleeps, continually preserving those whom He has redeemed.
As we
continue our journey through the Interpreter's House, Bunyan will unfold yet
another lesson that prepares Christian for the road ahead. Each room brings us
one step closer to understanding the grace of God more fully, and each lesson
points us once again to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Signing off
Tyrone
Scripture References: John 10:27–29; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 7:25; Jude
24–25; 1 Peter 1:3–5.
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