God's Refining Fire

Years ago my children and I attended the Renaissance Festival. The one attraction that captured our eyes was the glass blowing exhibit. We stood watching as a man heated the glass with fire holding it there until he saw the image that he wanted. Then the glass was removed from the fire and twisted and turned into the shape of his design. I watched, fascinated as he repeated the process on other parts of the glass. As we stood there, I saw the glass taking shape under his talented hands. Beauty came out of the heat. A design I never fathomed was drawn out and I saw elegance and artistry in what had once been a lump of glass. I stood there reminded that God is like that glass blower. We are held firmly and gently by God as He refines and shapes us in His skillful hands. He allows us to endure fiery trials and then He molds us into the image He had in mind when we were born. Expertly we are beautified.

God in His incredible wisdom knows exactly how much fire we can endure in order for us to be perfected, purified and refined without being totally destroyed. I think of the text found in I Corinthians 10:13, “No suffering or pain that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God is compassionate and trustworthy and He will never let you be pushed past your limit. He’ll always be there to help you come through it.”

God is the refiner of glass, gold and silver. He is the one in control of the heat, how long we are in the it and how He is working in our lives. We must trust Him because He promises we will become those beautiful ornaments of glass in His hands. He is the master glass blower. Indeed, we will be turned into beauty and glory in His hands.