Refiner's Fire

I have had this old song running around my head for the past week or so. Do you remember it?

Purify my heart,
let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart,
let me be as gold, pure gold.

(Chorus)
Refiner's fire,
my heart's one desire
is to be…holy;
set apart for You, Lord.
I choose to be…holy;
set apart for You, my Master,
ready to do Your will.

Purify my heart,
cleanse me from within
and make me holy.
Purify my heart,
cleanse me from my sin, deep within.

It's such a nice song, isn't it? I do want to be holy. I do want to be set apart for my Lord. I do want to do His will. But do I really want the refiner's fire? Have you ever thought about that? A friend of mine once said worship songs are often ways we promise God things we would never promise or ask for otherwise. It's so true!

As this song ran its merry-go-round in my head, I began to examine the words and I found myself thinking how crazy it is that I would actually ask for a refiner's fire.

I just read about blacksmiths with my son for school and I immediately thought of the refiner's fire. Those fires are hot enough to melt iron so it can be pounded into the tool the blacksmith needs. That's the kind of fire the Bible refers to when it says we are tested by fire--a refiner's fire.

I don't know about you, but I don't really want to ask for the refiner's fire! I want the end result without the heat. Right now I find myself wondering what God is showing me. Is He giving me encouragement and strength to face the present physical issues I'm having? Is He telling me there is more to come? (I hope not!) I don't know the answers. One day as I wondered what to read in my Bible, 1 Peter popped in my head. The title of that section is, you guessed it, "Refiner's Fire." (I just shook my head and laughed.)

1 Peter 1:3-9 says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this (the things he listed) you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."

So, even though I don't like the fire, I am reminded about how much I have to rejoice in--I am born again, I will inherit God's kingdom, I am protected by the power of God through faith. And if my fire results in a tool (me!) He can use better for that Kingdom, then I will try to remember to be joyful in the midst of it, remember that my faith is more precious than gold (or anything the world has to offer) and remember that the end result is worth the heat.

So, in spite of my reluctance to ask for a refiner's fire, I will joyfully continue to praise Him and serve Him in the midst of it.

Lord, help me rejoice in You no matter how hot the fire gets.