Refined - Finding Joy in the Midst of the FireSample

There are times in life, because of our resistance, when the fire reveals our ugliness rather than our beauty. Instead of allowing the fire to do its refining work in our lives, we hang on to anger, selfishness, pride, and opinions, and we refuse to let those impurities be released from our lives. The prophet Jeremiah recounts the troubling biography of one who resists the Refiner’s fire. The fire burns on and on, but the dross and imperfections are never released and removed. The Smith is never able to see His reflection in the piece of metal that has resisted its potential to become anything of value. Instead, this particular piece of metal has stubbornly hung on to and clung to that which cheapens it, regardless of the intensity of the heat. This stubborn piece of silver, referenced by the prophet Jeremiah, by necessity, is rejected for use by the refiner because it’s impure, unusable, and unattractive. God, as the Master Refiner, allows a piece of silver or gold to be placed in the fire time after time, and when the dross is stubbornly held on to, the refining process continues in vain. This story, found in Jeremiah, has a tragic ending. This obstinate and impure piece of silver has been set aside because it insisted on hanging on to its weaknesses. Oh, how I don’t want to be set aside by God! I want God to be able to use me every day in every possible way! I want less of me and less impurities in my life! There’s no more tragic and horrifying phrase than for a Christian to hear from the Father’s heart, I simply am unable to use you. You have refused to let go of that which weakens you. The Refiner’s fire is able to miraculously transform worthless junk into a commodity that possesses the value of pure gold to God who first created the precious substance. The recycling process of God always takes place under relentless pressure and is accompanied by searing heat while the fire is tended by the Refiner Himself. He takes the natural issues of our lives, touches them with His “super,” and we miraculously become “supernatural.” A miracle takes place while in the fire: We become like Him! We reflect His brilliant glory! He sees Himself in you and in me!