Sanctus Real - On Fire Lyrics
Lyrics
Remember when you couldn't wait
to show up early and find your place.
Cause you didn't want to miss a thing.
And your heart was open and ready for change.
Oh, those days.
You were never afraid to sing,
never afraid to lift your hands.
Didn't care what people would think.
You were on fire,
and church was more than a place,
and people were more than faces,
and Jesus was more than a name.
Remember when you weren't ashamed.
To tell your friends about your faith.
A time when you felt the pain
of just one lost soul that was slipping away.
Your heart was soft, you had radiant eyes,
but slowly the pressures and burdens of life
pulled you into the dark of the night.
But when did you lose your sight?
Cause you were on fire,
and church was more than a place,
and people were more than faces,
and Jesus was more than a name.
Oh you were on fire,
you let life put out the flame.
But he's still calling out for you
cause he wants to light your heart again.
And set it on fire
Set it on fire.
Turn your eyes, turn your eyes
and don't forget what it was like
Set me on fire, set me on fire
I wanna hold God's people close
wanna feel the power of Jesus' name
Set me on fire
Set me on fire
Video
Sanctus Real - On Fire (Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Sanctus Real's "On Fire," released on October 9, 2015, as part of their "Best Of" album, serves as a poignant spiritual mirror, inviting every soul to reflect on the warmth and zeal of their initial encounter with faith. This compelling anthem delves deep into the often-unspoken journey of spiritual ebb and flow, chronicling the transition from vibrant devotion to a potentially subdued experience, before ultimately calling for a fervent return to the heart of what truly matters. It paints a vivid picture of the early days of belief, a time when the very thought of gathering in church sparked anticipation, a moment when one's heart was truly open and receptive to the transformative power of divine grace. The song recalls a period characterized by uninhibited worship, free from the self-consciousness of human judgment, where lifting hands and voices in praise was a natural outpouring of an overflowing spirit, echoing the simple, unadulterated faith that Jesus encouraged in Matthew 18:3, urging us to become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.
The core message of "On Fire" powerfully defines what it means to live a spiritually vibrant life, where faith transcends mere routine or ritual. It harks back to a time when "church was more than a place, and people were more than faces, and Jesus was more than a name." This profound declaration articulates a spiritual state where one is not simply attending a building or acknowledging acquaintances, but actively engaging with the living body of Christ, seeing each person as a cherished member of God's family, and experiencing Jesus not as an abstract concept but as a tangible, transformative presence. This reflects the early church's fellowship described in Acts 2:42-47, where devotion, community, and the presence of God were undeniably real and central. Being "on fire" signifies a profound inner passion, a burning zeal for God that permeates every aspect of existence, much like the commitment to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as urged in Romans 12:1.
The song further unpacks the essence of this lost fervor by recalling a time when sharing one's faith with friends was not met with shame, but flowed naturally from an overflowing heart. This speaks to the bold and unashamed proclamation of the Gospel that characterized the early disciples (Romans 1:16). It remembers the deep empathy for the lost, a tangible ache for "just one lost soul that was slipping away," mirroring Jesus' own compassion for the crowds, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). This period was marked by a "soft heart" and "radiant eyes," indicators of a spirit alive and attuned to God's presence and purpose. However, the narrative bravely confronts the inevitable drift, acknowledging how "slowly the pressures and burdens of life" can pull one "into the dark of the night," causing a loss of spiritual "sight." This resonates with the parable of the sower, where the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, rendering it unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). It's a candid admission that even the most zealous among us can find our flames dimming under the weight of worldly anxieties and responsibilities, leaving behind the "first love" mentioned in Revelation 2:4.
Yet, "On Fire" doesn't merely dwell on the past; it offers a resounding call to spiritual renewal and reclamation. The bridge offers a profound truth: even when we allow life to extinguish the flame, God's call remains steadfast and unwavering. "He's still calling out for you 'cause he wants to light your heart again." This tender reassurance speaks volumes about God's patient and relentless love, His desire to rekindle the embers of faith, echoing Jeremiah 29:13, where God promises that if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him. The song then shifts from remembrance to fervent prayer, a personal plea to "Set me on fire," expressing a deep longing to return to that initial state of passion. It's a prayer not just for personal revival but also for communal spiritual vitality: "I wanna hold God's people close, wanna feel the power of Jesus' name." This concluding aspiration underscores the communal aspect of faith, the yearning to reconnect with the body of Christ, to experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), and to love one another as Christ loved us (John 13:34-35). "On Fire" is a powerful invitation to turn our gaze back to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), to fan into flame the spiritual gifts within us (2 Timothy 1:6), and to embrace a life wholly surrendered and radiantly alive with the fire of God's Spirit.