What will it mean to have the fire of God burn away our accomplishments, for it is our accomplishments and the accomplishments of those to whom we minister, that are either gold, silver, and precious stones or wood, hay, and straw. Nothing else can be brought into the spirit realm after death.

As we stated previously, our accomplishments consist of our Christ-filled character and the Christ-filled character of those whom we influence. As far as institutions and buildings we may have produced, they have eternal significance only as they contribute toward the creating of Christ in people.

To be saved as by fire may mean a staggering loss that will affect us throughout eternity. We shall watch while the faithful are loaded with Divine glory until they shine as the stars of the firmament while we are left as a naked spirit, within the borders of the Kingdom but without glory, honor, or even the respect of those around us.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:2,3)

How would you like to enter the Kingdom of God in a state of shame and everlasting contempt? This is what it means to be saved as by fire.

The fire that strips away all of our accomplishments, that hurts us, may be the same fire that burns in the Lake of Fire. The overcomer cannot be hurt by the Divine fire. He walks in the midst of it, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and all that is consumed are his bonds.

The same burning sulfur that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah also hurt Lot. It hurt Lot by destroying his flocks, his home, his sons-in-law, and his wife. The same burning sulfur that came down from the heaven drove Lot and his two daughters up to a cave to live as paupers—the man who previously had possessed too many animals to live near his uncle, Abraham.

And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. (Genesis 13:5,6)

The sulfurous fire that destroyed Sodom was not an ordinary fire. It was an eternal fire from God.

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7)

To be continued.