Prov 25:4

"Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry." Prov 25:4

I have discovered that certain rules must be followed if a person is to make a good electronic gadget. The single most important elements are clean connections and proper soldering techniques. If the items being permanently connected aren't properly cleaned solder will not stick and the connection will corrode and fail in due season. In like manner, if solder is not applied in the right way, the joint will fail. This same principle applies to copper plumbing as well. A dirty joint and insufficient solder will produce a joint that leaks and a leaky joint is almost impossible to repair without totally redoing the leaky section of plumbing.

Solomon tells us that pure silver, that which has been properly refined, is a product a silversmith can use. Pure silver allows the talented silver artist to produce jewelry, silverware, and serving items that will last for generations. However, if the silver is not properly refined or if the silver is over refined, the end product will be worthless and has to be re-melted and processed again.

You and I are in the refining business. Oh, we are not the ones doing the refining. No, we are the silver in the refiner's crucible. We are the ones who start as raw ore with more impurities than silver. We are crushed into small particles. We are sifted and sorted. Just when we think we are in good enough shape, we are cast into the fire. It is there that we find out just how impure we really are. The fire is hot enough to melt us and the impurities around us. The dross, melted impurities, is ladled off and the heat is turned up a notch. New impurities are melted and rise to the surface. They are drawn off and the heat is once again turned up. It is only when the Silversmith sees his perfect reflection in the shimmering silver that the crucible is removed from the fire and we are poured into molds for the Silversmith to use in His craft.

No, it is not pleasant being silver ore. I'm sure I would often prefer to remain impure, the alternative seems unthinkable. But, with each step I find that I am happier with what I see happening. Even then it is easy for me to shout, "Hey, Lord. I'm good enough. You can turn the head down now!" But it won't happen, not until the Master sees Himself reflected in me and that reflection must be perfect or it is back into the fire. It is hard being sent back into the fire, it seems that failure is the reason. But that is not so. Having impurities is not failure to the believer; it is the opportunity for the Master Silversmith to perfect us, to make us into what He knows we are capable of being. Only after the firing and the pouring out and the molding and the carving that we are what the Master knows we can be, a tool to draw other ore into His ways so He can refine them and make them perfect and pure in His sight. Amen.