“California is on fire again,” Lynne stated as she watched the news. Since we don’t live there any longer, we usually don’t pay much attention to those reports, but since it was close to a friend’s home, we kept an eye on it over the next few days. Fast-forward a couple of years. Several days ago, I saw a report about the effect the 2020 Southern California fires had on the state’s solar panel generation. The report stated that the smoke created by those fires reduced the solar panel output by 50%! Frankly, I’m not a fan of solar panels, but I’m a BIG FAN of Solar Power.

Here’s the thing about fire: It can be a positive or a negative force. Controlled, it is beneficial; uncontrolled, it can result in disaster. The same thing can be said in the spiritual realm. Scripture tells us that “our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29, ESV). Paul tells us how this works out in the life of a believer:

“Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” —1 Corinthians 3:13-15

In verse twelve, Paul tells us there are two types of materials with which we build on the foundation that is Jesus Christ: “gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw.” Gold, silver, and precious stones will not burn. The wood, hay, and straw are going up in a cloud of smoke.

To be clear, this ultimately refers to the day we stand before Jesus Christ.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” —2 Corinthians 5:10

The “good” is the gold, silver, and precious stones. Everything else is wood, hay, and straw. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to wait until Heaven to find out I’m getting an ashtray.

So how do I make sure that doesn’t happen? I follow Paul’s advice:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” —Romans 12:1-2

Our God is gracious and compassionate, but He is also the Master Builder and knows what is required to transform a sinner into a saint — adversity.

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” —1 Peter 1:6-7

This is not the “good news” that many churches preach, which is why there are more Christians being overcome than becoming overcomers. When I present myself as a living sacrifice, God will initiate the purification process. Peter gives us a frequently overlooked insight into this process:

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” —1 Peter 4:1

Adversity, trials, and difficulties result in my ceasing from sin.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), the only thing that was burned were the cords that bound them. Like them, I need to go willingly into the fire, knowing that God is walking with me through it. If I’m walking in the flesh, the smoke from the wood, hay, and straw, like the smoke from California wildfires, is reducing the Son (Solar) Power in my life, because Jesus is the Sun of righteousness.

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” —Malachi 4:2

The Interlinear Bible literal translation translates it as “healing on His Wings.” The Sun of righteousness is a person, not a thing. That, my brother, is Solar Power!

What say ye, Man of Valor?