“This is the perpetual fire which shall never fail upon the altar.”
(Leviticus 6:13)
In Leviticus 6, God gives a clear command to the priests: The fire on the altar shall burn always.
Every day, it had to be maintained—wood added, ashes removed, and careful attention given.
This fire was not decorative.
It represented the presence of God, holiness, and a living relationship between God and His people.
But this fire was also connected to moral responsibility.
Before speaking about the fire, God speaks about sin, restitution, and restoration. In other words, one cannot maintain God’s fire while neglecting justice, truth, and repentance.
For a fire sustained by an unjust heart will always end up going out.
God is not satisfied with spiritual gestures alone; He looks at the condition of the heart.
Under the Old Covenant, the fire had to burn on the altar of sacrifices.
It constantly reminded the people that:
•sin is real,
•God’s justice is demanding,
•and forgiveness came at a cost.
Yet this fire had to be maintained every day, because the sacrifices were imperfect and repeated.
With Jesus Christ, the altar changes, but the fire remains.
The sacrifice is no longer repeated: Christ offered Himself once for all.
The altar is no longer made of stones; it has become our heart.
The fire is no longer lit by repeated sacrifices; it is lit by grace.
The fire is no longer physical; it is the Holy Spirit.
“Do you not know that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives within you?”(1 Corinthians 3:16)
Even today, the fire fail when:
•repentance becomes theoretical,
•grace is used to avoid the truth,
•faith becomes a habit without love.
And the fire burns when:
•the heart remains humble,
•the conscience stays sensitive,
•love for God and for others remains active.
May the fire never fail on your altar.
Not by your own efforts, but through a living relationship with Christ.
Not by fear of judgment, but through gratitude for grace.
For a heart touched by the perfect sacrifice becomes a living altar itself.
PRAYER:
Lord,
You have kindled in me the fire of Your grace through Jesus Christ.
Keep my heart pure, sensitive, and faithful.
Help me to walk in truth, repentance, and love, so that the fire may never go out on the altar of my life.
Amen.
Apostle Dr Jean-Claude SINDAYIGAYA