The Refining Process

Malachi 3:3- "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women 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 any-thing 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."

My aunt sent me this email a few weeks ago and last night Des talked about it at Bible Study. I think it's one of the coolest things that I've ever heard. God holds us the entire time we're in the fire, and He doesn't take us out until he sees himself reflected in our lives. Once again, God is in control. I just think this is an awesome story, and it brings me to tears every time I hear it.

I was once again reminded of God's faithfulness last night. Des asked us to share stories of a time in our life when we were being refined. I shared a story of a recent time in the fire, and Rachel, one of our best friends here, looked at me with tears in her eyes and went on to echo a similar experience in her life. Ten minutes before Bible study, I read an email from a dear friend who is also being refined in a similar way right now. Today I'm reminded that God calls us to the fire, but he promises us that we'll never be alone. He is ALWAYS with us, and lately I've been reminded of the way that he is constantly surrounding us with his people. Thank God for friends and for putting them in our lives at just the right time.