The Refiner

Disclaimer: Obviously I am not an actual angel. However, I feel like God speaks to my heart and I would love to share it with you. Please enjoy.

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I received this story on Facebook. I don’t know if this is a true story or fictional. What I do know is that the principle is true. I had seen it before, but had forgotten the story. When I saw it again I knew I wanted to pass it on to you. Please enjoy it.

 

There was once a group of women studying the book of Malachi in the Old Testament. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” 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 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 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 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 “Yes”, and explained that 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 damaged.

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.”

If today you are feeling the heat of this world’s fire, just remember that God has His eyes on you.

-Anne Kephart

 

It is true. The refining process for us is the same. It is the only thing that makes us pure. When we finally get to heaven and all sin of any kind is burned away, that is when the refining process will be complete. Then we will truly reflect God’s image.

If the silver refiner did not refine the silver it would just be a pretty rock, but not be any better than the rest of the rocks around it. The refining is everything.

I used to work in a fine jewelry store for 12 years and I have seen for myself that if gold is not properly refined, when it is under pressure it will fail. In that way it is just like silver. It develops tiny holes, then cracks, and then it breaks. When that happens it loses all it’s strength and value. When that happens it cannot be made strong without being melted down and refined again.  

I love the part of the story I shared where the refiner keeps his eye on the silver. God never takes His eye off us as He refines us. He knows exactly when we have reached the refinement He is looking for, and He will not allow us to be damaged as He refines us. He does not expect perfection in us because we are still being refined. Neither will He force us to go through the process. We have the option, at any time, to walk away. That is the biggest mistake we can make. When people can start to see God in us, that is the sign the refining is working.

If you have ever seen pictures or a video of silver or gold being refined, you will know that the raw silver or gold does not go straight into the fire. It is held in a fireproof cup otherwise it would be lost. It completely melts and has to be contained or it will simply fall into the fire and be lost.

When God is refining us He holds us in His hand to keep us safe from the fire. Even though we have to melt so the impurities can be burned out of us, because we are being held in His hand we are taking on His form.

So, how do you react to the fire? It can be very painful at times. But without it we are weak and will always fail. God is refining us, not to make us pretty, but to make us strong. The beauty that comes as a result of it is the proof that we are becoming more like God. It makes it all worth while. After all, being as much like God as we can, should be our goal. When the refining is done, which will be when we join Him in heaven, we will be the perfect reflection of Him. It doesn’t get more beautiful than that.

Think about it.