Leviticus 6:12-13 (ESV Strong's)
The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.
Subject: Fellowship with God
Leviticus is a book written for the priest of the Israel on how to administrate the Law. There are many instructions that are no longer needed since Christ became the one-time sacrifice for all (see Hebrews). However, the symbolism represented in the book with each instruction speaks to a New Testament principle or act of obedience. Note what the writer of Hebrews says about these things:
Hebrews 8:5 (ESV Strong's)
They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
The "patterns" we're to show us how to have fellowship with God. So, in the above text we see that the priest were to make sure that the flames on the alter were constantly burning. This is, of course a practical matter so that when sacrifice was made the fire was hot and ready to offer the sacrifice. However, it also shows that the priest had to be constantly maintaining fire. The fire was a picture of God's presence and the priest constant fellowship with God. In the NT, as believer priest, we are responsible to "keep the fire going" of our faith. Each morning we to stir the cold ashes and to gather fresh wood to keep the fire going. This is one reason we read God's Word each day. God's Word kindles our faith. We are personally responsible to kindle our faith by the constant fellowship with God. The Spirit of God gives us the ability to do this as we yield in faith. Like the priest of old we are to keep the fire going.
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