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(I corrected several path problems on August 29, August 30, and September 1, including these selections: Which  Version?, Christmas, Images, Body of Christ Discovered, Hymn Midis, KJV Bible, and Spiritual Warfare.  Sorry for any problems; please let know if you find others. - Gary)

Kitchen Aid

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:7

But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap. Malachi 3:2

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptation. James 1:2

The sun is not very kind to my skin; I burn easily. I think the two worst sunburns in my life came long ago, when I was in Mexico for a summer. One happened on a day at the beach, before I knew anything about sunscreen. I came out looking like a lobster; there were blisters on my back. The other time didn't seem as bad at the time; after sitting out in the hot sun for hours watching a folk festival, without any kind of protection on my head, I got a serious burn on my face, with the worst being on my nose. For years afterward I used creams and ointments on the old schnoz, which stayed red and dry all the time. I still have a problem with dry skin there.

Life can also burn us in other ways, many of them not visible to the naked eye. As a nation, we are facing an ongoing series of crises that has already worked profound changes in our society. As individuals, all of us at some point or another will have crises of our own; the important thing is how we respond to them when they happen. Just as heat drives out impurities from metals during the smelting process, so the fires that come in our lives can rid us of things that don't belong there. The Bible is full of stories of people who went through extended periods of testing before they were ready for God's use.

Abraham waited for over twenty years for God's promise of a son to be fulfilled. He despaired for a time, trying to help God along by fathering a son through Hagar, but he never gave up completely. Joseph languished in captivity and prison for years before God lifted him to a position of leadership and power. From Moses to Daniel to the Apostle Paul, from Rachel to Hannah to the prophetess Anna, God's servants waited for the fulfillment of his promises. Sometimes they faced death or physical hardship, at other times endless years of waiting. Our Lord himself faced his times of testing, first in the wilderness, then again at Gethsemane. For some, like Samson and Judas, the metal, and mettle, was tested and found wanting, but others came out stronger from the fire.

None of us enjoys facing trials and troubles. Unfortunately, it seems that, not only do they come, but they also just keep on coming. As the years go by, the tests get harder. In more than one way, it's like going to school; as we learned more in school, the exams became more difficult, because we had more knowledge to draw on. As we mature as Christians (and some don't!), the level of our faith and obedience increases as we learn to trust God in the midst of difficult situations. When I was single, I had no one to worry about but myself, and my needs were simple. I had few commitments, and fewer responsibilities. Now, not only do I have a family to care for, I also have responsibilities to my job, my church, and to each of you through this ministry. I would gladly trade the problems I have now for, say, the ones I had in college or high school; life just doesn't work like that.

God allows tests and troubles to come our way, not to make our lives miserable, but because he loves us. Just as we discipline and correct our children when they can't understand why, so he lets us go through tough times for our own good. Without darkness, we can't appreciate light; with sorrow, we can't appreciate joy. Like iron ore when it comes from the ground, we're not much good in our natural state. It takes the heat of the fire to burn away the impurities and leave the pure metal, which can be shaped and molded for a multitude of purposes.

All of that's easy to say with hindsight, but what about when we're in the middle of the fire? First of all, we need to realize that, just as with the three Hebrew children, there's someone walking with us through the fire! Glory! Look around, children; like a Southern Gospel song that's out now says, he's still walking through the fire! Next, no matter how hard it is, and no matter how much we just don't feel like it, we need to keep on praying and stay in the Word. Sure, there are times when it seems we're going through the motions, but if we persist, we'll make the connection again with our Source. Finally, don't pull away from those who love you most; talk and share with your family, your friends, and your brothers and sisters in Christ. I have a few people I can turn to and talk to, no matter how discouraged and depressed I am, no matter how dark things are, and no matter how much I'm drowning in self-pity. That's all it takes -- a few. Too hot in the kitchen? Don't get out -- just let God in!

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