Jesus said, “He who is near me is near the fire, and he who is far from me is far from the kingdom.”
In the Holy Scriptures, we read that “the Lord is a consuming fire,” fire consuming fire making all like unto itself. The burning bush that the prophet beholds is on fire with the presence of the Lord and is not consumed. Likewise, in another place it is written, ”You who cleave unto the Lord are alive this day.” In the secret books of wisdom, the Lord is called “the Radiant One,” “Ain Sof Aur,” “the Endless Light.” Outwardly, it would seem there is a contradiction here, or else that there are three fires of the Lord, but the masters teach that there is one holy fire of the Lord, a threefold fire of the Divine presence. Hence, there is one holy fire (Divine power) that manifests in three distinct modes or at three different levels.
Now, rightly it can be said that fire is fire. It both burns and illuminates and, in every case, transforms. Although we would speak of one holy fire, we can also see that there are different forms of fire. For example, in nature, we find the typical fire we call “fire” or “flame,” but we also find chemical fire, electrical fire, and nuclear fire. Each form of fire is a moment of transformation from one state to another, a change in the form of energy by way of a release of energy from its former state into another. Here, we have the secret of fire and the Master speaking of himself as the holy fire. Lord Yeshua is a transforming and liberating agent and, by nature, illuminating. That is to say, this is the very nature of Logos, a transforming and illuminating Divine power.
Yet consider the nature of fire. Can anyone draw near unto fire who is not like unto the fire? If any form of fire comes too close to anything that is not like unto itself, the fire burns and consumes it. Indeed, the Lord teaches of a baptism by fire, the holy fire of the Spirit, saying of this baptism that it is Life and Light to all who receive it. The masters also teach us that the fire of hell is the fire of the same Holy Spirit purifying the souls of the wicked and unclean spirits. What this holy fire is depends upon the present condition of the one to whom it draws near or who would seek to draw near it. To one who is like unto this holy fire, it is a great blessing of Light and Life and Divine fulfillment. To one who is not like unto this holy fire, it burns utterly and consumes, appearing as a curse and wrath. It is the same fire, yet to one it is life and to the other it is death. This is one way in which the different manifestations of the holy fire are understood. Thus we know, to draw near unto the Lord, we must fashion ourselves in the image of the Lord, becoming like the Anointed One of God.
We understand in the Lord a threefold baptism—of water, of fire, and of the Holy Spirit—that is to say, of the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord. Before the initiation of fire, we must receive the initiation of water, for first we must be purified and receive our life in the Christ-Spirit, becoming like unto the Holy One, before drawing near unto the Holy One. Being purified by water, we must then be consecrated by fire, transformed into the likeness of the One Anointed in the Supernal Light. Only then can we receive in full the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Divine resurrection that she brings.
I will tell you plainly, to pass through the holy gate of the kingdom of heaven, you cannot be lukewarm, but must be hot, on fire with the Lord, filled with divine passion. No one knows the presence of the Lord and the Lord himself who is not passionate for the holy Shekinah as he himself was passionate. Such holy passion burns oneself utterly away and there is only the Beloved. At the same time, holy passion itself is transforming and illuminating and is, itself, the Divine Life, for what passion comes is the passion of the inner self or Christ-self, a new and Divine consciousness and being filled with Light and Life. Once again, you must understand that to live in the Way, Truth, and Light is, itself, the enlightenment experience, the reward promised to us in Yeshua Messiah. He lived according to the righteousness of Logos in him and so was called the Way, the Truth, and the Light, and so also are we the Light when we take up our cross daily and follow him, living the Divine Life.
There is a deeper mystery in this saying, for, in truth, there are different forms of the holy fire or Divine power to be awakened in us. First, there is a digestive fire that must be kindled that allows us to take in and integrate the energy-intelligence of teachings and initiations we receive. It appears as a passionate desire to receive for the sake of heaven, although there is a fiery energy inwardly that produces this radiant and holy passion. This fire becomes the passionate desire for mystical union with the presence of the Lord, and so transforms from a digestive and consuming fire to an illuminating and spiritual fire. On fire with the Lord, one not only receives and digests the secret Wisdom, but one gives of oneself to others and shares what one receives. On account of this divine passion, the Holy Spirit can enter and awaken her holy fire in us and bring down the most secret holy fire, the spiritual nuclear fire of the supernal consciousness.
I will tell you a secret, a holy mystery. This holy fire is the same fire transforming into one form of fire, then another, and yet again another. The spiritual nuclear fire is the secret source of every other form of fire, each form of the Divine power being a mode of operation of this one holy fire on different levels. This is reflected in the Tetragrammaton (YHVH), which is the same Divine presence and power manifesting through the four universes. The threefold fire is reflected in the three holy letters composing this four-lettered name of God.
Perhaps this experience seems far away from you; yet, in truth, it is very near to you. The Light-force of the soul of the Messiah is within you and all around you this day. If it seems distant, it is only because, as yet, you live on the surface of yourself and have not gone within to live within to bring forth the Light that is within you. Nevertheless, in potential, this holy fire is within you, ever near and awaiting ignition, hence initiation.
There is a meditation in the tradition through which initiates gain knowledge and understanding of this holy threefold fire of Mel-chizedek. It is a holy meditation upon a lamp or candle flame. With proper blessings, the practitioner kindles the flame and, praying to the Lord, then meditates upon the body of the flame, looking to see the threefold fire in the single flame. Near the wick, there is a black fire, the consuming fire, that at times changes color, becoming red or blue, each state of this lower fire having a certain meaning in contemplation. Then above this lower fire, and resting upon it, is the white fire. At first, this upper fire appears as a golden flame, but looking and seeing this upper fire, the practitioner sees that it is, in fact, white fire that never changes. The fire below changes, but the upper fire never changes. The lower fire corresponds to the Lord as a consuming fire and the upper fire corresponds to the Light of Life that never changes and gives life to all who cleave unto the Lord. Having looked to see the lower and upper fire, the practitioner looks to see another secret fire, represented as the radiance around the flame, within, all around, and yet beyond it. This is the representation of the transparent Light of Supernal Holiness. Receiving instruction on this holy meditation, initiates then have a method of gaining insight into the holy fire of the presence of the Lord. Here, in this saying, the Master is alluding to this secret practice and several others that use fire as a focus.