Power rationing has been affecting many people in Burundi over the last 4 months. The electricity is cut at the most random times and returned at even more random moments in the day or night. Burundians are increasingly turning to generators if they can afford them. Traditionally, however, it is candles and paraffin lanterns.
Recently, the power went off at a certain organization's offices late in the evening. They were prepared as they had been relying on generator power over the past few months. Two of workers were sent to check the level of fuel remaining in the generator. There was only one small problem- how to see into the generator's fuel tank. Following a good traditional practice one of the workers decided that candle light would do the trick quite nicely.
The other objected muttering something about fire and fuel being somewhat dangerous. "Nonsense" came his friends response. "I won't stick the candle into the tank...I'll just use its light to look INTO the tank". Somewhat reluctant the other worker stood a few feet back.
Apparently, it didn't take but two seconds as the fumes ignited and the whole generator erupted into flames. The intense Burundian darkness was no longer quite so dark. The poor chap holding the candle received 3rd degree burns, but came away with a valuable lesson: "Fire + Fuel= Explosion.” And explosions of light have a way of eliminating darkness. They accomplished their goal- just not in the right way.
As I heard this story I started thinking about that verse in Hebrews: “Our God is a consuming fire”. I think it was Jim Elliot who used to pray: “make me thy fuel oh flame of God”. Another man mightily used of God used to say “if God had HIS way with us, He would make us torches of fire purifying the very darkness everywhere we went” My prayer is that God would ignite my heart with His holy fire like never before to drive back the forces of darkness. What about you?
