THE REFINER’S FIRE

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? 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, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness – Malachi 3:2-3

“Everything within me had been striving against God. Like Jacob at Peniel, I had been vainly wrestling with the angel of the Lord, trying to have my own way, yet at the same time unwilling to turn loose until he blessed me. Now the blessing had come. And with it, a limp. Yet even the limp – and the scars – are badges of His glory.

Perfection still eludes me. I am still vulnerable. But most importantly, I am no longer satisfied with my imperfection. Nor, thank God, am I intimidated by it…

Dissatisfied with imperfection, I am now determined to move toward that goal of “conforming to Christ” – knowing at the same time it will nbever come because of my obedience – but out of my submission to the Holy Spirit. It is that obedience that leads to the fine art of living beyond control – beyond self-will and into the comfort of the Spirit’s control…

…as I look back over my own life, I wonder id nay truth becomes valid or personal until it is burned into our souls by the branding iron of God. I admit I do not know.

Malachi draws the picture of God sitting in front of the melting crucible under which burns the refiner’s fire. The fire has been stoked to white heat. In the crucible is silver ore, representing, Malachi says, the “sons of Levi” – those chosen for special service in the Kingdom. The fire is burning, purging the dross until only the pure metal is left. Only when the refiner peers into the crucible and sees the reflection of his own face is the heat turned down and the pure metal poured into the forms which bless the world.”