Purified by Fire

Psalm 139:14 “. . . for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works;”

My son Josh is a tremendous blacksmith.  His craft is very stressing on the body and requires a great deal of strength, concentration and determination.  He  knows the type of instrument he wants. He knows the size. He knows the shape. He knows the strength required for it to stand-up.

It is absolutely amazing to watch him work.  He bangs away at that metal, and bangs away, with noise ringing out, smoke and sparks filling the air, until that softened metal begins to slowly respond and take the shape he desires.

However, the response doesn’t come easily.  It doesn’t come without discomfort.  To melt down the old and recast it as new is not easy.  The metal remains on the anvil, allowing him to remove the scars, repair the cracks, refill the voids, and purge the impurities or imperfection.

Once he stops pounding and sets down the hammer.  With a strong left arm, he strategically lifts the tongs until the freshly molded metal is at eye level.  And he begins to search for mars and cracks.  And for the first time:

• Now, he can finally see his reflection.
• Now, light shines where it once was dark.
• What was once dull is now sharpened.
• What was crooked becomes straight.
• What was weak becomes strong;
• And what was useless now becomes valuable.

That is what the hand of God does (and is doing) in our lives.  Sometimes God has to put us in the fire to soften us.  Sometimes He has to bang on us to work off the rough edges.  Sometimes He has to grind us to a point that we can begin to show His reflection in our lives.  Perhaps you’ve been there. Perhaps you know what it feels like to be disciplined by the Lord.  After God has worked to purify you:

• Now, you reflect the light of the Master.
• Now, light shines in the darkness.
• Now, others can see Christ in you.

That is God leaving His fingerprint on your life!