Religious zeal may often be considered an indication of genuine conversion. The question that needs to be addressed is: Conversion to what or to whom? When a soul experiences behavioral and emotional changes, we call that conversion. We should not forget that, besides the major changes the soul will experience, the perception of reality is modified as well. The way of thinking, the way of looking at things, take a different direction and are now perceived in a different light. Many people experience a theological conversion without a true knowledge of Christ. We can change our views in different theological matters without necessarily changing much as far as our relationship with Christ. For instance, to be strictly biblical, I would invite you to contemplate the conversion of John, “the son of thunder.” He accepted the invitation of Christ. He became a follower of Christ, he spent his entire time with Christ, he even became a missionary, he went to preach, he performed some miracles and many other things in behalf of Christ. With all these traits, are we fully convinced of his conversion to Christ? When he and James visited a certain Samaritan village, John was so proud of his Master that he knew that Jesus would handle the preaching according to the divine wisdom. John was convinced that the Samaritans would receive the message. But what a surprise - the villagers rejected the Saviour.

Immediately John and James proposed to Jesus a declaration of war. “Wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did” (Luke 9:54, emphasis added). Such a mentality is very common in most of the religious and non - religious circles of the world. Was it possible that “John the beloved” - while being with Jesus - was actually being controlled by another power? Was it possible that, as missionaries, John and others were unaware of the spirit that then controlled their actions and emotions? “Wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?” they said.

After this supposed act of heroism, John and his brother - another “son of thunder” - were expecting appreciation for their devotion. Instead, Jesus uttered a very uncomfortable truth: “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (verses 55, 56).

John was ready to share the grace of God only with “good people.” He could not take one step farther to accept the fact that manna was falling from heaven for both good and bad people. John may have been perceived as a very faithful believer, even “on fire for Christ,” but his attitude showed the spirit that controlled the entire substance of his intentions. Any noble purpose - any good intention - if not sanctified by the blood of Jesus, will bear the poor stigma of human pride. Religious zeal is beneficial only when it comes from the Spirit of Christ. Otherwise it will create the same fanaticism that has so often led to religious bigotry and bloodshed.

You may say: “Well . . . John has died, what do we have to do with that?” It is true, that the man called John has died, but the same spirit is at work today to generate religious zeal of the same type. As long as we display the same self - intoxication with pride - the same infatuation - we are powerless to fulfill our duty according to the divine expectation. We may be “on fire,” but if we display in our thinking and behavior the same spirit of intolerance and cruelty as displayed by John, the son of thunder - and as long as we nourish such a mentality in our ranks, the rest of the world will not be impressed with us. The Spirit of Prophecy declares:

“It is no part of Christ’s mission to compel men to receive Him. It is Satan, and men actuated by his spirit, that seek to compel the conscience. Under a pretense of zeal for righteousness, men who are confederate with evil angels bring suffering upon their fellow men, in order to convert them to their ideas of religion; but Christ is ever showing mercy, ever seeking to win by the revealing of His love. He can admit no rival in the soul, nor accept of partial service; but He desires only voluntary service, the willing surrender of the heart under the constraint of love. There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas.” 1

Have you unexpectedly found yourself displaying that religious zeal for Christ’s righteousness - that sincere desire - “to correct the thinking” of others in a very forceful and inquisitorial way? I have, and perhaps it took a good time of failure and deception in my spiritual life before I realized the emptiness of my heart, the cosmetics of my polished hypocrisy, and I fell on the Rock. I understood then the value of human life and the price paid by Someone for the redemption of souls I used to despise.

“Every human being, in body, soul, and spirit, is the property of God. Christ died to redeem all. Nothing can be more offensive to God than for men, through religious bigotry, to bring suffering upon those who are the purchase of the Saviour’s blood.” 2

“It is not Christ’s follower that, with averted eyes, turns from the erring, leaving them unhindered to pursue their downward course. Those who are forward in accusing others, and zealous in bringing them to justice, are often in their own lives more guilty than they. Men hate the sinner, while they love the sin. Christ hates the sin, but loves the sinner. This will be the spirit of all who follow Him. Christian love is slow to censure, quick to discern penitence, ready to forgive, to encourage, to set the wanderer in the path of holiness, and to stay his feet therein.” 3

“The darkest chapters of history are burdened with the record of crimes committed by bigoted religionists. The Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession of the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them from selfishness, malignity, greed for gain, and the basest hypocrisy. They thought themselves the greatest religionists of the world, but their so - called orthodoxy led them to crucify the Lord of glory.

“The same danger still exists. Many take it for granted that they are Christians, simply because they subscribe to certain theological tenets. But they have not brought the truth into practical life.” 4

I had a chance to listen to the experience of an old lady that had spent her whole life in the canvassing work, investing her entire personal wealth assisting the poor, and printing books for the entire North American region. In short, she was a great hero in the church. On her deathbed, as a pastor I asked her how she felt about her final days, to which she replied: “Brother, I see that time is against me and I have run out of options. What I am now going to tell you will fully surprise you; I know everybody regards me as a faithful person; I know they want to make a chronicle about my life - but I tell you, Brother” . . . her voice stumbled under a torrent of tears, “I tell you Brother, that . . . I do not know Jesus as a personal Saviour. Yes, I sold books about Christ. Yes, I taught students how to sell books about Him, but I feel I do not know Him personally as a Friend and Saviour.”

Chills went down my spine when I reflected on the nature of her experience, and the very first move of my conscience was to investigate my own relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. Am I in a similar condition? Is there something to learn from her experience? Is there a bell ringing in my conscience to announce the end of God’s grace for me?

Is there a voice speaking to you as well, my friend? I hope there is. Take the safe side in this situation and listen to the voice of your conscience. If you see the negative reality of your religious life, listen to the Lord. He is offering you, maybe, your last chance. If you believe, He will give you the assurance of sins forgiven and generate in you a sentiment of humbleness and appreciation. As a result, you will be so much in love with Him, so much on fire for Him, that you will become an instrument in His hand for the salvation of other people in a similar condition. The Lord Jesus Christ wants you to discover the freedom and peace that come from forgiveness through His blood.

Brothers and sisters, young and old, the most successful missionaries are those who are sure they are forgiven. Those who are not sure are not necessarily bad people, but they are lacking something - they are not “on fire for Christ.” Those who have repented of their failures are usually the most reliable missionaries. To whom is forgiven much loveth much. What qualified Peter to be a missionary was his simple answer to the question Jesus addressed him three times: Simon Peter, son of Jonas . . . do you love Me? His humble answer, Lord you know all things, you know that I love you, qualified Peter for a noble task.

“Jesus, before the assembled disciples, brought out the depth of Peter’s penitence, and showed how thoroughly humbled was the once boasting disciple. He was now entrusted with the important commission of caring for the flock of Christ. Though every other qualification might be unexceptionable, yet without the love of Christ he could not be a faithful shepherd over the Christian flock. Knowledge, eloquence, benevolence, gratitude, and zeal are all aids in the good work, but without an inflowing of the love of Jesus in the heart, the work of the Christian minister is a failure.” 5

He was really in love with Jesus; he was on fire for his Master. This is what made him say with a powerful and ardent voice: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).

Rome was on fire. Someone conceived a sinister way to persecute the Christians, and many of them were sent to the stake. Rome was literally on fire with human torches for the work of God and for the name of Jesus. On the streets and in the amphitheater, a heavenly melody could be heard: “Nero . . . we forgive you.” With the last breath of their voice, Christians sealed their lives, leaving behind the legacy of what it really means to be on fire for Christ. Their labor in this world testified to the character of Christ reproduced in them to such an extent that they could exclaim: “Nero . . . we forgive you!”

These Christians were capable of forgiving one of the worst human enemies of Christ and His followers. Since Christianity was regarded as treason against the Roman empire, the same fate fell upon Peter, Paul, and millions of Christians who died - ”on fire for Jesus.”

“Treason against the Roman government was the crime for which Jesus was condemned, and persons put to death for this offense were consigned to a burial ground especially provided for such criminals.” 6

“Upon his arrival at Rome, Paul was placed in a gloomy dungeon, there to remain until his course should be finished. Accused of instigating one of the basest and most terrible of crimes against the city and the nation, he was the object of universal execration.” 7

“In the providence of God, Peter was permitted to close his ministry in Rome, where his imprisonment was ordered by the emperor Nero about the time of Paul’s final arrest. Thus the two veteran apostles, who for many years had been widely separated in their labors, were to bear their last witness for Christ in the world’s metropolis, and upon its soil to shed their blood as the seed of a vast harvest of saints and martyrs.” 8

“Christians were falsely accused of the most dreadful crimes and declared to be the cause of great calamities - famine, pestilence, and earthquake. As they became the objects of popular hatred and suspicion, informers stood ready, for the sake of gain, to betray the innocent. They were condemned as rebels against the empire, as foes of religion, and pests to society. Great numbers were thrown to wild beasts or burned alive in the amphitheaters. Some were crucified; others were covered with the skins of wild animals and thrust into the arena to be torn by dogs.” 9

History is full of supposed “heroes” ready to kill in the name of Christ, but few are ready to die for His name. Thus the two major currents of history hinge on the same subject. One class of people, the majority - which in fact are the persecutors - wrote history with ink, while the other class of people, the minority - the persecuted ones - wrote history with their own blood. It is our duty to heed the lessons of history. One day they may be useful to us as well. The time will come when the same kind of scenario will be staged against the people of God. On that day only those who are on fire for Christ will stand.

Let me be more specific: To love people above your needs, to love them above your priorities, to love them beyond your pain, beyond your suffering, every day, with the same intensity - this is what I would call “to be on fire for Jesus.” This is a constant behavior. It is a state of mind, it is an everyday need, it is a permanent sense of urgency. It is not an emotional eruption but a tender, gentle, everyday smile, showing consistent love for Christ.

“[Many] are consumed by a fiery zeal which is mistaken for religion, but character is the true test of discipleship. Have they the meekness of Christ? have they His humility and sweet benevolence? Is the soul temple emptied of pride, arrogance, selfishness, and censoriousness? If not, they know not what manner of spirit they are of. They do not realize that true Christianity consists in bearing much fruit to the glory of God. . . .

“I have seen a device representing a bullock standing between a plow and an altar, with the inscription, ‘Ready for either’ - willing to swelter in the weary furrow or to bleed on the altar of sacrifice. This is the position the child of God should ever be in - willing to go where duty calls, to deny self, and to sacrifice for the cause of truth. The Christian church was founded upon the principle of sacrifice. ‘If any man will come after Me,’ says Christ, ‘let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’ He requires the whole heart, the entire affections. The exhibitions of zeal, earnestness, and unselfish labor which His devoted followers have given to the world should kindle our ardor and lead us to emulate their example. Genuine religion gives an earnestness and fixedness of purpose which molds the character to the divine image and enables us to count all things but loss for the excellency of Christ. This singleness of purpose will prove an element of tremendous power.” 10

“We are never to get above the simplicity of the work. It is a power in its simplicity. A consistent life, a fervent zeal, a meek and quiet spirit, mingled with a heart overflowing with love for perishing souls, is Bible religion. We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 11

May the Lord Jesus Christ be merciful to us and enable us to love, to seek, and to forgive those who need our help. And may we, by His help, be willing to die for His sake. Philippians 1:29: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” When the trumpet shall sound, may none of us miss the final call. Amen!