It was a dull, gray morning with dark clouds hovering in the sky .Heavy rains the night before had wet the roads considerably leaving small puddles everywhere.Weather is never a concern to us Indians on a special day and that day being Diwali(a Hindu festival known not only for lights and lamps and firecrackers,but also for some mouth watering delights)young chaps were cheerfully bursting firecrackers and shooting rockets into the sky despite the raw weather.We were headed to a friend's place (Dad's friend actually) in Madurai.Having the car parked by the roadside,a careful and a rather slow walk down a narrow street led us to smiling faces that greeted us at the door and a warm welcome was given by the friend's whole family.'Diwali' translates to sweets and so we were hoarded with a variety of homemade snacks.I was seated on the floor and my gaze wandered around the small living room when I was drawn to some unfamiliar tools and small machinery lying around in a corner.I went closer to have a better look.Noticing my curiosity,the friend's Dad proudly introduced himself as a goldsmith. He worked at home and his workplace occupied a part of the living room.Amidst the cluttered space,something caught my attention.It was the refiner's fire.I had never met a goldsmith nor had I seen a refiner's fire and so I immediately clicked a picture of it. Before I could ask him any questions,the goldsmith hurried inside and brought out a fabulous necklace that he had made for his daughter.The necklace was crafted in intricate designs and exhibited excellent craftsmanship.It was adorned with rubies,emerald and diamond.It sure was worth a lot of money!
 |
| Refiner's fire! Unfortunately the picture I clicked wasn't clear enough... so this is from the worldwide web:) |
That got me thinking.Refiner's fire.It can be the most uncomfortable place for gold.It has to withstand the intense of the heat until it conforms into the desired shape of its maker.Isn't that so true with us too?God wants to conform us into the image of His Son, to purify our faith, but it comes as by fire, the refiners fire.It is indeed miserable and lonely when we have to walk through it but once we are out of it,we are made into the perfect design intended for us by the Maker.
We have a role to play in the process as well.When trials come our way we can either grumble,complain,express bitterness towards God and others or we can thank Him and allow Him to mould us in the way he wants us to be...and the latter requires TRUST-a complete trust and total surrender to the Goldsmith. He's right there all along,his eyes steadily fixed on the furnace and on ME! He makes sure that I come out refined as gold and fulfill the purpose for which He's made me!I just gotta hang in there because He's refining me and its gonna be over soon!
"I owe more to my Lord's fire, hammer and file than to anything else in His workshop. Sometimes I wonder if I have ever learned anything except at the end of God's rod. When my classroom is darkest, I see best."-Charles Spurgeon
"These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."I Peter 1:7
