Some people specialize in decluttering and dumping. Similarly, the righteous kings of Judah had to undertake major cleansing and demolition when the wicked practices of wicked kings were to be removed and destroyed.  Altars for idol worship were pulverised to fine dust and washed away in the Kedron brook. This was literally a scrupulous cleansing. It is all there in 2 Kings 23.

The altars built by the kings of Judah on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars built by Manasseh in the two courtyards of the house of the Lord, were torn down by the king. He had them smashed to pieces right there and had the rubble thrown away in the Kedron Valley. (2 Kings 23:12)

The repulsive altar, an abomination before the Lord and built to taunt God, was pounded into fine dust and washed down the brook. (1 Kings 14:9; 16:33) This is a decisive reckoning. Josiah’s actions are symbolic of what is to happen in our lives as well.

It is comfortable to look down on all the pagan practices with the luxury of  historical hindsight from a high horse of judgment, and wonder how on earth the people would fall for the empty, idiotic beliefs; to ever think that it could fill the void in their souls. Who is so foolish as to think that the idolatry of sex, power and money mixed with a “healthy” dose of secularism, born out of post-modern rules to never ever offend anyone who disagrees and live by other value-systems, are the solution to anything?

However, it is super-important to step off the high throne of historical value judgment and view the world around us realistically and soberly. Then again, it is easy to express disapproval of “the people, the leaders, and politics.” Of course, it is essential to stay clearheaded and know what is going on, but the real challenge is applying a Holy Spirit-inspired view to your own life. How many altars do I build, maintain, and worship because I do not surrender my thinking to the Holy Spirit’s renewal?

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

A new way of thinking is the starting point of a life of victory. It is not a simple superficial process. It is a conscious submission to the Word of God to think counterintuitively and discern God’s heart. The Word is the “pruning shears” for dead works (John 15:3) and the “bath” that washes away the dust of idol altars (Ephesians 5:26). It is a miraculous process of joy and peace since the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin in perfect, unconditional love and burns the idolatry away in the fire of freedom. That is the promise.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11)

It is the baptism of fire that cultivates the gold of renewal in us. (Revelation 3:18)  Often the cross we carry, the trial and brokenness of life, is what God moulds in His cleansing fire into precious personal building blocks to become a powerful warrior in the Kingdom.

There is another story of fire in the Bible. Sunday school stories that renew our thinking now that we study them with an adult perspective.

Daniel’s three friends refuse to bow to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 3) Young men, already schooled in the ways of Jehovah and strong in conviction in the midst of the prevailing idolatry of Babylon—just as evil is promoted from the upper echelons of government today.

The furnace’s stokers burn in the overwhelming heat of rage and revenge. The three friends walk into the furnace intact, with a fourth man forcing even the evil Nebuchadnezzar to his knees.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”

They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:24,25)

There in the fiery furnace the Gentile sees God himself honouring his servants’ faith. He calls out the men who walk out of the furnace unharmed with a humble confession to the truth of the God of Israel from the ruler of Babylon.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the fire of evil had no power over God’s heroes of faith.

And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

There was no sign of the typical after-effects of fire. Evil had to give way before the son of God that Nebuchadnezzar saw. Likewise, we are saved from the fire of anger and revenge, whether in a work situation, where envy and backstabbing are the order of the day, whether in difficult family circumstances, fear of world events, as well as fear in all its forms of failure and destruction. Our salvation is, in the words we speak, the agreement we make with the Almighty just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

What could be the mighty consequence if you uttered the words of these men in the overwhelming tidal wave of evil upon your situation? The agreement with our Father, the Almighty Ruler over peoples and nations in the words of your mouth, leaves the fiery furnace powerless, without consequence.

Then you just shouldn’t roll into the ashes again. The altar of victory must be maintained with the golden stones of the Word.

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

To fear again, to get angry again, to fall again into the same trap of heaviness and despondency, where fear paralyzes you again and again, is to roll into the ashes of the fiery furnace you have conquered.

Step away. Live in the shadow of the Almighty and in the secret place of the Most High. (Psalms 91)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)