Taivaallista tulta ja tuulta – Heavenly fire and wind
One of the essential conditions for human survival throughout human history has been the ability to make fire.
Without it, we would have frozen and starved to death. If humans have learned to at least partially control the use of fire, we are pretty much on the receiving end of the wind. Of course, there is much benefit to weather science to be prepared for changes in weather and wind, for example in sea conditions. However, fire and wind are fundamentally forces of nature that we cannot control. Wildfires caused by thunderstorms are all too familiar guests in this province.
Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Christian church. It was then that the Holy Spirit promised by the resurrected and ascended Jesus was poured out on the disciples.
”2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sit-ting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”. (Acts 2:2-4).
The word spirit in the Greek of the New Testament means wind. Fire is also used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the fearful and uncertain followers of Jesus were “clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49).
They began to boldly tell the good news about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit made the word alive and personal even to many foreign-language speakers. The church lives by the power of the Holy Spirit at all times. It is good for us to remember that too. We cannot control fire or wind, nor God Himself. Instead, we can receive His word, and pray into our lives His power, which can ignite our hearts to believe and love. “Touch me, Spirit, touch me, glory! Give life direction and purpose.” (Hymn 125:1)
Have a blessed summer, Pastor Timo
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