Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A Special Email

It's true. Sometimes kids grow up to be wiser than we were at their age. I don't think even as a young adult, I ever reflected on what my parents were going through. I received this email today from my oldest son and thought I would share. I'm sure it applies to many.


Mom,

I got this and thought of you and all the things that you’ve gone through.

Malachi 3:3 says:

'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'


This verse puzzled me and I wondered what this statement meant about the true character and nature of God.

I decided to find out the process of refining silver before my next Bible Study.

I called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. I didn't mention anything about the reason for my interest beyond that of curiosity regarding the process of refining Silver.

As I 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 in order to burn away all the impurities.

I thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' Feeling the heat from the flame, I then asked the silversmith if 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.”

I went silent for a moment. Then asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

His answer struck me when he replied: 'Oh, that's easy ...when I see my own image in it.'

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

That was beautiful. :-)