Dark days are soon to come upon us, things are happening in the world like nothing we have seen before. Calamities get more and more every day and violence is growing to become a normal thing. How can we look at what is happening in the world and not see the fact that time is getting short?
Even among our own friends and family we are fighting and arguing about silly things. Or if one group of people don’t believe like another group of people they quit being friends with each other, where once they were joined together. This is not something new that is taking place it has been happening since Cain killed Abel.
It isn’t a bad thing that we go through hard times, when once a friend turns foe. Or when people slander your name and say all manor of evil against you. On the contrary it is that very thing that can make us stronger or crush out the fire within us. Things are not going to get easier, in fact things are going to get much worse before they get better. We must remember the promises in the Bible, for instance:
Matthew 5:10 – 12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
I used to think, “Why me? What is the purpose of going through all this pain? What is wrong? Why does it always seem as if I am going through hard times? I just don’t get it! Please Lord can you help me out, can’t you make my life easy?”
When I was younger I couldn’t understand why this was happening to me, I didn’t know what I know now. It seemed as if I was the oddball, the only different one! And it hurt! I won’t admit that it didn’t! You see when I was younger, I was teased! And I just couldn’t understand why the Lord would allow me to go through something like that!
But now that I look back, I can see why! Forgive the people that have done it, and move on, you see I wouldn’t be who I am today, if it wasn’t for them! A special thank you to them, and I truly hope that they are happy in their lives today.
The Lord uses fiery trials to make precious jewels/ gems! He tries us so that we may better reflect His image! But back then I didn’t know that, I didn’t understand! But thanks to my mother and searching out the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy and talking to others, I can now see why the Lord seems to put us in “hot” places.
For instance when a glass maker is making a pitcher, cup, vase, decoration piece, or anything else they are making, they have to go through a process to get the final result. They have to shape and mold it and put the glass in fire to make the glass moldable so they can form it into the beautiful pieces of art that we use.
The same goes for us, the Lord is shaping and molding us, refining our character. If Jesus didn’t put us through the fiery trials, He couldn’t see how we would react to problems. Jesus couldn’t teach us or guide us to a better way, and sometimes we have to go through the fire several times for the same thing because we did not learn the first time.
The refiner’s fire is there to help guide us. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to go through a similar trial, only with real fire. We all remember the story of Daniel 3, and how the king commanded everyone to bow before a statue, those three had a choice they could have gone along with it, but they didn’t. They choice to take the hard path, and because of that the Lord rewarded them with His presence in the fire, and when they came out of it not one hair on their body was harmed. (Please read the full story in Daniel Chapter 3.)
So let me get this right Jesus was in the midst of the fire, so in all reality isn’t that where we want to be? By Jesus’ side even if it means in the middle of a fire, because as we are reminded again and again Jesus is right there with us through everything we go through. If we allow Him to be, and if we are not intentionally putting ourselves on Satan’s ground, but even then Jesus is trying to send us a lifeline to pull us out.
Jesus always knows, no matter what it may be, what we are going through! He had the hardest fiery trials ever! And if we trust Him, He will help us through our fiery trials, and when we are out of the fire, we will shine!
Those are not the only times in the Bible where it mentions that the Lord is represented as fire, there are many examples. To name a few there is the sacrifices, when they use to offer sacrifices fire would come down from heaven and consume it. You can read about it in Patriarchs and Prophets, about the very first time it happened with Adam and Eve. You can also read about it when Elijah called forth fire to come down from heaven to consume the offering, in 1 Kings 18 and also in Prophet and Kings, now there is a story that it fascinating.
I could go on and on with examples but you get my point. We must be a fire for the Lord as well, and that sometimes means saying things that people don’t want to hear. Whether it is about the way they dress, talk, eat, or how they spend their time, we are our brother’s keepers. It doesn’t mean we can change them but it is our responsibility to point out error, and it is up to them to listen.
Jesus is still seeing me through fiery trials, and I have a long way to go, but I know that for every “hot” place that I go through He will be there, to help, encourage, and to say, “My child, take My hand, hold it tight, and I will see you through!”
Just remember that no matter what fiery trials we go through, we can count it all joy to suffer for Jesus! And someday we will see the results! As for me I would rather be in the fire with Jesus then to be consumed by His fire in the last days. Solemn words indeed. Pray for me as I pray for all of you. Let your light so shine, continue upward and onward. There isn’t much time left… The Christian path is not the easiest but it is one that is worth everything we may have to go through.
A Star Witness 