Gold In The Furnace Of AfflictionSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: The Lord permits us to go through furnace of afflictions to purge our hearts of the impurities and make us holy. After being tested through horrible tribulations, we emerge as pure as gold. This is a specific appeal of the priests to God for the sake of King David. King David pleaded with the Lord for himself thus, "You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?" (Psalm 56:8).The Amplified Bible Version interprets the term 'afflictions' as 'hardships, humiliations, endurance". David, the Psalmist defines 'afflictions' as 'the anguish of my soul' - 'my soul in adversities' (Psalm 31:7).
Yes, my dear friend, soul-anguish is the climactic pitch of afflictions seem to be necessary in the course of our lives. When we realise that they do have a place in our lives, the Lord allows us to walk in their path. Simultaneously, He too walks along with us and props us up whenever necessary. That is why God assures in Psalm 91:15 "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him." (Psalm 91:15)
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." (Isaiah 48:10)
"He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness." (Malachi 3:3)
Devout Job, in the midst of tragic losses and severe disease, comforts himself in the Lord saying, "He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). Just in conformity with his irrevocable faith, 'The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10).
Many years ago, I had the privilege to visit Bhilai Steel Plant in North India. Powdered iron ore is dropped from a high tower - like structure into the blazing fire - furnace deep below. The smelting fire separates impure substances from the melted ore. The liquid shinning steel comes out as a stream of white silver, providing us a wonderful dazzling spectacle.
Friend, in a similar manner, our lives resemble the iron ore, sin still sticking in, even after accepting our gracious Lord in our hearts and having received the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. So, necessarily, the Lord has to throw us into the furnace of afflictions to purge our hearts of the impurities and make us holy. After being tested through horrible tribulations, we emerge as pure as gold. Our Lord transforms us into His own form.
"Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver." (Job 22:25)
I, once happened to listen to a story of a lady, purified by fire into gold, narrated by the lady herself. While the lady was abroad, she was constrained to undergo medical treatment in a hospital for three weeks. In that painful situation, she had no one - even friends or relatives - to take care of her barring the nurses. A surgery was performed and she was kept in a six bedded general ward. Three weeks rolled by and the time came when she had to leave the hospital for home. Her husband arrived to escort her. As the happy farewell hour approached, the nurses who had attended on her, surrounding her wanted her to know one mystical aspect regarding her, "Madam, after undergoing a complicated operation, you had to stay in a general ward for three long weeks, with no one to give you company and comfort, yet we professionals, observed that there was no gloom in your face, which cheerfully sported a constant divine peace, you never raised a cry of pain. This astounds us. Could you please share with us the secret of this nobility? This request stunned the lady for a while. Nevertheless, with penetrating patience, she unfolded to them how, on a particular day, she had accepted Jesus Christ as the presiding ruler in her heart and how His constant presence helped her to overcome the crisis, always providing her irrevocable joy. She then prayed for them as well.
Several months later, when the lady revisited the hospital, the nurses testified to her exultantly, 'Madam, now the Lord Jesus Christ whom you prayerfully introduced to us, is now living in our hearts, shedding incomparable peace in our lives." The lady was overwhelmed by measureless joy!
Dear friend, our afflictions thus, transform our very nature into sparkling gold, without our own volition. Other people will witness this metamorphosis derive benefits and blessings for themselves. This is why the Lord permits tribulation in our lives.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
When I pass through various trials and tribulations in my life, help me not to be troubled or discouraged. Help me to remember that it was planned by You to make me more holy and to shine forth as gold. Teach me to be patient and hold on to You steadfastly. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |