Reflecting His Face
A friend shared a Facebook post a few years back of a short video clip a young lady posted. I don’t know her name or I would have added it here. She was talking about the Bible study she attended the night before. One of the things that she wondered about was this scripture:
Malachi 3:3 - He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi [the priests], and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord [grain] offerings in righteousness.
The part that stood out was the phrase “He will sit as a refiner..” She pondered the use of the word “sit” and decided to visit a silversmith to find out more. He explained that the process to purify or refine silver takes place over extreme heat, in excess of 800 degrees C. The piece of silver is placed in a porcelain crucible and melted. As it becomes a liquid, the impurities start to drift to the top from where it can be removed. This leaves the silver pure and shiny. The process might have to be repeated a few times until all impurities are removed.
The important thing is that the silver has to be held over the heat at just the right distance away from the flame. For this the silversmith has to be present and seated at all times to keep a watchful eye. If the silver is kept there too long, it will burn and be destroyed. If it is removed too early, some of the impurities will remain, making the process incomplete and the silver less shiny. She asked him how he knows that the silver is fully refined, to which he responded: “When I can see my face in it.”
This story stuck with me all these years as it gives such a truly reassuring picture of our loving Father. Sometimes we go through trials and the testing of our faith and hearts (James 1:2-4) when all impurities and the less important things in our lives are being removed. During those times we can sometimes wonder and even ask where God is and why He is not rescuing us. Knowing that He is fully present and carefully watching us, not taking His eye off us - that He will not let the trial or test continue one second more than needed - just makes the whole process more bearable. But even more than that, it thrills the heart knowing that we are being conformed into the image of His Son, so that when He looks at us, He sees the image of Jesus reflecting back at Him.
Rom 8:29 (AMP) - For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers.
Prov 17:3 (AMP) - The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts.
Ps 66:10 (AMP) - For You have tested us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.
“God showing off His daybreak.”
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