The Silversmith

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

" What does this statement mean about the character and nature of God? One of woman offered to find out the process of refining silver and share it with her bible study group.She made an appointment to watch a silversmith at work without mentioning the reason for her curiosity. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; Then she thought again about the verse: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered yes, and that he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.' (IS THAT COOL OR WHAT? I love technology, but sometimes I wish we had a chance to observed more of these old-fashioned illustrations. Anyway sorry for the interruption!) If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His mage in you. Whatever you are going through, you will be a better person in the end.