This word is usually negative in the sense that it refers to destruction, a wipe-something-off-the-map destruction like famine consuming the land. In reference to God, it is about his ability “to destroy or do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of.” While modern technology makes possible the destruction of all records, bank accounts, etc. of a person thus destroying their ‘existence’ and making them ‘non-existent’ in that sense, God can literally zap people or things out of existence.
When I read the Bible, “fire from heaven” sounds like lightning yet a different word is used for “consume.” Some say these consuming fire things are miracles. I don’t know. The OT is filled with examples. The NT says that a time will come when God shakes things up and remove all that does not survive, then adds . . .
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28–29)
In that sense, to consume means to get rid of all that is contrary to the perfections that God created in the beginning, including all evil and sin. This is a positive thought about God’s power to consume. It is found in an OT promise that uses a different Hebrew word from the fire from heaven idea. This one means: “to stop, discontinue, to put an end to a state or an activity.” The verse says:
I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and I will consume your uncleanness out of you. (Ezekiel 22:15)
This will be no comfort to those who love their sin but it is a promise for those who have realized sin’s destructive power and its affront to a holy God who wants far better things for the people He created in His image. It is for those who see sin as bondage, something that seeks to ruin them and make them marred and unable to live to their potential.
The idea of God consuming my sin puts a few images in mind. Most of them are a bit scary but one is like the sculpture who was asked how he made such wonderful statues of horses. He replied, “I just chip away everything that does not look like a horse.” Such is the way of God. He is chipping away all in me that does not look like Jesus. I am a large and stubborn hunk of rock and there is much to be removed. However, He is faithful to keep at it. One day the task will be finished . . .
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3)
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. The above verse tells me I will become like Jesus as I keep my eyes on Him. Having sin consumed brings unpleasant emotions until I realize the result — this is a description of heaven! When God is finished, sin and evil will be destroyed. Yes, the grave and death will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15) and all whose name is not found in the book of life, yet then He will also consume every other negative from the lives of His people . . .
“The dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:3–5)
That makes God’s consuming fire good news rather than terrifying!
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