Pastor’s Corner “The Refiner’s Fire”

This past All Saints I mentioned how the Church’s honoring of saints began by remembering martyrs, those who said “Yes” to Jesus even though it meant suffering and death. Continuing to say “yes” to God even in the midst of suffering is indeed the mark of a saint, whether Saint Margaret of Antioch and her torture, or Saint Ignatius of Loyola and his shattered leg, or Saints Kathy and Andy Oravetz of Immanuel and their “wild ride this year.”

St. Kathy shared her reflections on being in the “refiner’s fire,” and I knew all of you would be encouraged by her insight:

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”(Malachi 3:3)

Many of you know Andy and I have been on a wild ride this year.  Our plans are not the Lord’s plans.  God’s plans appear from the outside as distractions and side roads. Even as something sent from the Enemy.  The perspective changes when we see them from God’s perspective. Prayers from our church family, and our extended families, support in the form of meals, transportation, and visits all help to give us hope and support our faith.  What more do we need?  

And then the Lord speaks through a social media post. What? Social media? Seems impossible, but God is the God of impossible!  This social media post gave insight into Malachi 3:3, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”  Similar references are also found in Psalm 66:10,  Isaiah 1:25, Daniel 11:35, and Zechariah 13:9. Paraphrasing the post:

Not knowing anything about how silver is refined, a person goes to a silversmith to learn about refining silver. The silversmith explained that in refining silver, one needs to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are hottest to burn away all the impurities. He has to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it is in the fire. If the silver is left even a moment too long in the flames, it will be damaged.”

“How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”

He smiles and answers, “Oh, that’s easy. When I see my image in it.”

God wants to burn out the impurities in me so that I reflect His image.

A google search found this information about refining silver:

“The old-school approach uses heat – lots of it. Pyrometallurgical refining basically means burning the hell out of your silver until it’s pure.” (Complete Guide to Refining Silver at Home or Professionally - Goldture 

Now I don’t usually use 4-letter words, and I know the writer wasn’t using this description in the literal sense that I heard…God is burning the sin/hell out of my life so that His image can be seen.

I often expect life to be easy, without conflict, being free from difficulties and sin.  Jesus already paid the price for my sin so now I should be on easy street.  I know that isn’t true, but sometimes I have that attitude.  So, when times are tough, I can get a bad attitude about how I can’ t do what I want to do.  These are the times God is holding me in the refining fire, watching carefully to burn off the impurity without damaging me, looking to see His image in my life.  Knowing this doesn’t make the fire less hot, just reminds me that He is there, He has a purpose for this time, and is actively watching over me. He loves me so much that He is working to get rid of the bad parts of me…the bad attitude, the self-centeredness, the ungodly traits that make me slip and fall from His perfect path so I can reflect His image to those around me.

May you grow in your awareness that our Father sits with you in your suffering, his eyes never leaving your face, as you becoming ever more capable of reflecting his image. “Lord,” prayed St. Margaret,” you have granted me to go through fire for your name.”

Your Pastor in Christ,