This
verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered
what this statement meant about the character and nature of
God.
One
of the women offered to find out the process of refining
silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That
week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment
to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the
reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process
of refining silver.
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 that says:
"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 silver was being
refined.
The
man answered that yes, 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"
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 image in you.
