THE POTTER’S FIRE

Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction – Isa. 48:10

On the journey to perfection, Clay cannot shy away from Fire. Formed clay vessels that have been allowed to thoroughly dry are carefully stacked in separate, sealed chambers in the kiln. If a vessel that was not completely dry were exposed to the extreme heat of the kiln, the remaining moisture would expand unevenly causing its fragile walls to crack or explode under pressure. During the few days of the firing cycle, the potter and his helpers would hardly rest or sleep! The Potter watches the fire with experienced and accurate eye, carefully watching its “color” through a small peep hole in each firing chamber, to determine when the fire had reached the appropriate temperature. That’s how the Perfect Potter is watching over you!

The potter also controls the fire. If it were extinguished before it became hot enough, the vessels would still be too fragile to handle, and break easily during the final glazing process. On the other hand, if the potter allowed the fire to be excessively hot, the surfaces of the pottery pieces would become so hardened (vitrified) that they would not be able to hold the glazes with which they were to be covered. Enduring the fiery heat provides the pottery with the necessary strength to allow it to be glazed, decorated or put to fitting use.

The LORD is likened to the Refiner’s Fire: But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s FIRE, and like fullers' soap: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver…” (Mal. 3:2-3). The all-wise God necessarily allows each of His children to pass through a fiery, hardening process in order to be empowered in the path of faith. He knows exactly when to allow the “furnace of affliction” and how fierce the fire must be to strengthen the vessel for its intended service. Trials of faith will toughen and usher you into realms of blessings (Jam.1:2-4, 12).

There is Value in Heat. Our faith is proved by the heat of trials: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with FIRE, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1Pet.1:7). Whatever the diverse kinds of trials and tests that you may be called to pass through, the end your loving Father has in view is that you might be strengthened to display His beauty and glory. 

Are you feeling the heat of pressures and trials in your life? Don’t be discouraged. Look to the Lord for the supply of grace to endure and overcome the fire (Heb. 4:16). He has promised to help you through such times (Isa.43:2). The Psalmist said: “You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through FIRE and through water: but You brought us out into a wealthy place” (Psa.66:12).