Fire Consumes Or Purifies

Problems and trouble come in many forms, but they always bring some sort of “heat.”  It is important to understand that the flame that is causing the heat is never intended for our harm. Of course, a fire that destroys a house is terrible, but such a fire would not come from God.  My house was not destroyed by fire but was badly flooded in 2016.  I was devastated, but I watched God work through human hands and eventually my house was repaired, and my furniture was replaced.  Now, I have a powerful testimony to His faithfulness.

Everything that is good about a fire can be listed as a blessing of the Holy Spirit. Fire is a purifying force, and the Holy Spirit is the ultimate purifier.   Rev. Max Lucado wrote in a recent devotional – “We need the cleansing, sanctifying work of the Spirit of God.”  As I first read this devotional from Rev. Lucado my mind drifted to Malachi 3:3. “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”  Silver is refined through heat to burn off the impurities.  Similarly, we are refined through our troubles as we grow closer to God and then emerge with a strong testimony of His faithfulness.  I think it is interesting that a silversmith knows that all of the impurities are gone when he can see his reflection in the molten silver.  As we are refined, our face begins to “look” more like Christ and we begin to seek the same things that He is seeking for us.

While we are in the valleys of life, life is certainly hard.  The stress can take a toll on our bodies.  However, this is the best time to invite this refining fire to finish its work in our hearts.  A wildlife in the forest brings immediate devastation, but eventually there is new growth and renewal.  The fires in our lives also bring about spiritual renewal in spite of our physical condition, which I think is the message of (2 Corinthians 4:16).  “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”