This is a story I heard which made a big impression on my life and I wanted to share it with you.
"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Malachi 3:3
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered how this statement connects to the character and nature of God and pertains to us today.
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 anything 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 the hottest, 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"
(Author Unknown)
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
At this very moment, God is watching over you. And, whatever you are going through, you will be a better person in the end. You will be the reflections of our Lord Jesus Christ. So look up and give Him praise for the "fire" that you are going through.
Remember, you are "going through" the fire, not staying there; you are coming out of the fire with the image of Christ in your life.
His Holy Spirit is there to comfort and guide you.