There are a number of factors that can cause the flame to go out, such as lack of fuel, insufficient oxygen, the presence of foreign matter in the combustion chamber, to name just a few.
In Paul’s second letter to a young man named Timothy, Paul reminds him to “kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you” (2 Tim 1:6). The Greek word translated “kindle fresh” means to “keep in full flame.” In other words, keep the fire burning.”
What Paul is saying is that the gift of God is like a fire capable of dying out through neglect. Our walk with God, or our life with God, is much the same. We can allow the passion, zeal, and desire for God to die out through neglect.
Anything living needs some level of attention to keep it alive. Our relationship with God is no different. As Paul encouraged Timothy, let me encourage each of us to give careful attention to our walk with God. It is easy to allow “flameout” to occur by not giving our relationship with God the attention it deserves.
Take time each day to talk to God through prayer, to better understand the heart and mind of God by reading His Word, and to be involved with others who can encourage you with their words and as you watch the way they live their lives.
Just as a jet engine can experience flameout through the lack of fuel or insufficient oxygen, so can our relationship with God experience flameout by not taking time to feed the flame of our heart. When a jet plane experiences flameout and either does not or cannot restart its engine, it will ultimately crash and burn. Too many Christians have crashed and burned through lack of attention to their relationship with God.
As Paul told Timothy, “kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you.”
Flameout is avoidable!
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