Its so interesting that the past few weeks this exact subject has been weighting on my mind. Being sent through a purifying fire. I just stumbled upon this tonight, but I know that it is true. I also found this story after doing some searching on Google:
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3) This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, 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 he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
She asked the silver smith 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 even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, "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."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you.
--Author unknown
I know the scripture refers to the Savior, but since we know that God and Jesus's purposes are one, I always think of God being the instigator so to speak. Sometimes I wonder if I am wrong in this, so sorry if it should be worded differently to be scriptually correct. :)One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, 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 he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
She asked the silver smith 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 even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, "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."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you.
--Author unknown
Its amazing to think of our God watching and waiting to see His image in us. It also tells us, that no trial will leave us until we have learned what HE intended for us to learn. And we also know it will always be something that brings us closer to Him. Until we turn our lives over to Him, and take advantage of the Savior's plea to let Him help us carry our burden's, the trial will not leave. What an amazing Father we have. That He would watch us every moment, making sure we were safe and watched over. But desiring so much to see us reflect Him, that He would put us in the fire, is such a selfless act when you really think about it. I cannot image a Father that does not cry, hurt, and sorrow with His children. But He knows what the outcome will be. He knows who we will become in the process if we but follow His commandments, and follow His instructions. Its just amazing. So amazing that I wonder how anyone could doubt a loving Father above. This stuff just can't be made up. It all just works out to perfectly for it all to be random. Thank you Heavenly Father, for being a "refiner's fire".
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