George Stephenson said that fire from a piece of coal is "bottled sunshine" of long ages past.
The coal that glows in the grate, giving out so much warmth and comfort, was once part of a living tree, drinking in the sunbeams and storing them away just like the trees do now. These old trees were buried beneath the ground, and gradually turned to coal, but the sunbeams were still there, only waiting for heat to set them free again.
And now when the days are cold and dull, and we have not the bright sunshine to warm and cheer us, we let out some of this "bottled sunshine," and are made comfortable and happy with its bright beams.
But do not forget what we have learned about the sunshine,-- that all the light that shines in this world is the glory of God which the sun reflects, the light of His own glorious face.--See Article 7 "Light and Sight". The thought is also repeated in a few articles following that one. Then you will learn to see in the fire something of the brightness of the Lord himself, just "a gleam from the shining of His glory."--Ellen White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 96. You will know that all the blessing and comfort that the fire gives, come straight from Him.
And as the trees catch the sunbeams when the bright sun is shining on them, and keep them to give out again when and where they are needed, so may you when the light of Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, shines upon you, catch His bright beams and shed them forth in dark places to warm and gladden and comfort those who are in gloom and sadness.--Present Truth, December 22, 1898--A children's companion to: The Everlasting Gospel, Chapter 27, "The Fullness of God".