Among the Furnaces

AMONG THE FURNACES

“Every thing that may abide the fire, ye
shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean.”
– Num. xxxi. 23.

Is not this Thy way, even now, O Lord? The ancient statute has never been repealed, this “ordinance of the law which the Lord commanded Moses” is still in force in a spiritual sense for His own Israel. His prey which He has taken from the mighty, His precious spoil which He has gathered from among all nations, must be cleansed and purified before it can be meet for His use; and so it comes to pass that all that may abide the fire, shall be made to go through it.

     Herein, surely, are comfortable thoughts for tried and afflicted souls.” Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; “it was even so in the days of old , and there is a needs-be for the fulfilment of the commandment yet. If we are God’s gold, we must be subjected to constant purifying by fire. If He claims us as His silver, we shall be refined again and again, that our pollution may be purged, and all that is true and precious may shine forth with fresh luster to His glory. It is not the actual separation of the ore from its original dross that is here referred to, but the necessary cleansing of fashioned vessels and shapely treasures which have contracted any defilement, or suffered some dishonor. Alas! our inmost hearts tell us what abundant need there is that “the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

    But now, dear Lord, help me to apply this Thy law to my own most valued possessions. Let me see what I have that will abide the fire. “Will my good hope through grace ” stand the test of such an ordeal? Will my “joy and peace in believing” crumble into nothingness under the fierce heat of tribulation? Can the ” strong consolation ” which God gives me disappear as a vapor when the flame of affliction touches it? Or, if I should lose my best and dearest treasures, can the hot furnace of bereavement burn up all my strength and comfort? GOD FORBID!

     The true work of grace in a human heart can abide the fire of any trial to which the Lord may be pleased to expose it. We can sing of His love when the heat is most vehement, and glorify Him by proving that promise true, “When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” This is why the command is so frequently heard, thrilling through heart and life, “Ye shall make it go through the fire.” 

     Because our faith is precious, and our love golden, and our hope ” maketh not ashamed,” they must be ever subject to the Refiner’s fire . Does the flesh sometimes shrink from such an assaying as this? Yea, doubtless it does ; “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak;” yet need we not fear ;the purpose of our great Refiner is to discipline, not to destroy us. He makes the sighs of the furnace to strike the keynotes of the new and everlasting song; and the coming forth of His “tried gold ” will be found ” unto praise, and honor, and glory at His appearing.”

     Dear Father, what a blessed reason this gives for glorying in tribulations also, for thus we are being made perfect to do Thy work and will. What though the fire be hot, and the process a painful one, can we not see Thine eyes watching tenderly, and hear Thy loving voice saying, “Fear not, for I am with thee,” and does not Thy presence give ” fulness of joy” anywhere? To abide the fire, is sure proof that we shall pass through it, and emerge at last in Thy likeness. Thou dost not melt, and try, and prove that which is spurious and valueless ; but, having seen the glint of the gold which is Thine, even through the defilement which defaces us, Thou dost patiently wait, and “perfect that which concerneth us.”

     “It shall be clean.” O glorious promise! Not a moment longer than the furnace is needed shall we be exposed to its heat; but only when all that is vile is consumed, shall we come forth white and glistering. Dear Lord, we cannot love the fire, but we do praise Thee for the fire’s work upon us. By Thy grace, we would rather feel the hot breath of the purifying flame as it destroys our rust and rubbish, than disgrace our Lord and Master by living tarnished and corroded lives.