May 8, 2006 7:52 AM
In times of trouble
A friend sent this to me yesterday. Any time you think times are tough, here is something to hang on to.
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The Refiner’s Fire
“He shall sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver†Malachi 3:3
He sat by the fire of seven-fold heat
As He watched by the precious ore
And closer He bent with a searching gaze,
As He heated it more and more.He knew He had ore that could stand the test,
And He wanted the finest gold
To mould as a crown for the king to wear,
Set with gems with price untold.So He laid our gold in the burning fire,
Though we fain would have said Him, "Nay,"
And He watched the dross that we had not seen,
And it melted and passed away.And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,
But our eyes were so dim with tears
We saw but the Fire -- not the Master's hand--
And questioned with anxious fears.Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow
As it mirrored a Form above
That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us,
With a look of ineffable love.Can we think that it pleases His loving heart
To cause us a moment's pain?
Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross
The bliss of eternal gain.So He waited there with a watchful eye,
With a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat
Than was needed to make it pure.
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Some years ago, a few ladies, who had met together in Dublin to read the Scriptures and make them the subject of conversation, were reading Malachi, Chapter three. One of the ladies gave it as her opinion that the "fuller's earth" and the "refiner of silver" (verses 2 and 3) were the same image, intended to convey the same view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ, whilst another observed that there was something remarkable it he expression of the third verse: "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." They agreed that it might be so, and one of the ladies agreed to call on a silversmith, and repeat to them what he said on the subject.
Without telling the object of her visit, she went and asked to be told of the process of purifying silver, which he fully described to her. “But, sir,†she said, “do you sit while the work of purifying is going on?†“O, yes, madam,†was the reply. “I must sit with my eyes steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time of refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver is sure to be injured.â€
At once she saw the beauty and comfort of the expression: “He shall sit as a refiner.†Christ sees it needful to put His children into the furnace, but He is seated by them, steadily watching the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the beat manner for them. Their trials do not come at random. The very hairs of their heads are all numbered.
As the lady was leaving, the silversmith called her back and said he had still further to mention that he only knew when the process of purifying was accomplished by seeing his own image reflected on the silver. Beautiful figure! When Christ sees His own image in His people, His work of purifying is accomplished.
Posted in Inspiration | Permalink
Comments
This is the analogy catholics use to describe purgatory. The fire is purgatory, and the end-result is the image and likeness of Christ. It is then that we are prepared to ascend to heaven.
Posted by: paigeu | May 8, 2006 11:41 AM
A friend of mine sent me this story in an email recently. It was so touching. I am so glad that God only holds us to the fire long enough to bring out the beauty in us.
Posted by: Cindy | May 9, 2006 4:24 PM
