PURIFIED BY FIRE
1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ
Hunters today believe that we are the innovators of land management for wildlife. We feel we’ve established ways to attract more game animals and to make them healthier. However if we do a little research we’ll quickly learn that on this continent, hundreds of years ago, native Americans were managing lands to attract wildlife and in so doing, produced healthier herds. They did it with fire.
They learned by burning off prairie lands and even forested lands, that the fire would burn off old growth and dead matter and when this happened it not only rid the land of pour quality foods, it also fertilized the soils and caused new growth of far greater value to wildlife. It attracted more game and produced heavier animals.
Fire is an amazing tool, when handled in the right way. Since childhood most of us were told, “don’t play with fire”… it’s hot and can hurt you… but in the right hands it can do great and beautiful things.
All through the Bible we can find where God uses the illustration of fire to refine His people… like a refiner uses it to produce pure gold and silver.
Fire can be destructive. A wildfire can indiscriminately do awful things. The fire of an incinerator will burn and totally destroy everything placed it. In contrast the refiner's fire does not destroy indiscriminately like a wildfire. A refiner's fire does not consume completely like the fire of an incinerator. A refiner's fire refines. It purifies. It will melt down raw silver and gold and with it’s heat it will separate out the impurities that take away its value. The refiner’s fire will burn them up, and then it leaves the pure silver and gold intact. God is like that refiner's fire.
There is serious danger in the flames of a fire and it should never be taken lightly. But God wants His people pure and He will allow us to face painful times to get us there. The thought of fire can be frightening, but it also comes with a tremendous word of hope. The furnace of affliction in the family of God is always for refinement, never for destruction. God does this for our growth and purification.
This fire comes in many types of trials in our lives… they are never meant to destroy, but to refine us for purity and God’s use.
James 1:2-4 tells us to be joyful in times of these trials… because they bring a result that brings us closer to what God wants for us. James 1:12 gives us another promise of blessings.
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)
What fire are you in today? How is God working to purify your life for His service and glory? “consider it all joy”… because He loves us enough to want to purify us.
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