Refining Fire

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. Malachi 3:2

Fire refines glass. Careful arm and hand movements while turning the metal pole in the fire with glass particles on the end transforms hot glass into a myriad of shapes and sizes. My Valentine took me for “date-night” to Mohawk Glass where we could make whatever we wanted with the assistance of the staff. I made a vase out of a blue glass mixture. It was incredibly exhilarating to twist, turn, cut with scissors and pinch with tongs as I blended the melting glass and stretched it into a tube shape. The staff took the pole and shaped the flat bottom to my vase with layers of wet newspaper about 5” thick. Afterward my husband took another pole with a string of hot glass, like string cheese, and wrapped it around my vase as the glass blower continued to turn the vase. Now I needed to make the mouth of the vase larger so it would hold more flowers. Holding the pole, I gently moved up and down inside the mouth as the staffer continued to turn. When finished, my vase was put in a cooling container for 24 hours. What color glass did I use? Yes, blues with a gold band. When I finished, my vase was orange with a blue band. As it cooled, it became blue with a gold band. Just as I had chosen.

God is ultimately refining us to do His good and perfect will so we may be mature and complete in Him. During life’s refining moments it’s easy to lose sight of God’s plans as we undergo changes. Just like the vase was orange with blue trim when finished. Yet, once cooled, it was the colors chosen.

When we live a life of learning and allowing the Holy Spirit to refine us into the person Christ would have us be, we will be ready to stand when Christ comes again for His children. We will be able to love as He loved. Serve as He served and stand tall as He stands tall.

Until We Meet Again:

1. Identify places and ways the Lord is refining you right now.
2. Thank Him for His steadfastness to meet you in these fires!
3. Obey what He’s showing you and teaching you in the midst of the fire!

When Christ returns to earth it will be a day of accountability. His children will be separated from those who chose not to believe, and not to obey His precepts. How about you? Email judy@imperfectlygrand.com if you’d like to know more.