REFINER’S FIRE
Malachi 3:3 says: 'He
will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
This verse puzzled a
group in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the
character and nature of God.
One of them offered to
find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next
Bible study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment
to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her
interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the
silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He
explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle
of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about
God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that
says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith
if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the
silver was being refined.
The man answered that
yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his
eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a
moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for
a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is
fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see
my image in it.'
(Unknown)
If today you are feeling
the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eyes on you and will keep
watching you until He sees His image in you.
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