In Isaiah, chapter thirty-three, verses fourteen through sixteen, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.”
Isaiah describes those among God’s people who will come through the fire of His judgment. Note that it will only be those who live godly lives that flow from hearts that are right with God. That godly person is described as one who conforms to the righteous requirements of God’s law, speaks sincerely without deceit, rejects making money by unjust means, refuses to be involved in criminal violence, and declines to look at evil with pleasure or to delight in the wicked actions of others.
‘The devouring fire’ and’ everlasting burnings’ mean hell. The man who is to ‘dwell in the devouring fire’ is the good man. He that is able to abide ‘the everlasting burnings’ is ‘the man that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly,’ that ‘despiseth the gain of oppression, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.’
But that is not all. The fire of God is the fire of love as well as the fire of purity; a fire that blesses and quickens, as well as a fire that destroys and consumes. A holy God must be surrounded by holy hearts, which will open themselves to the flame as flowers to the sunshine, so a loving God must be clustered about by loving hearts, who alone can enter into deep and true friendship with Him.