What is this life compared to eternity!?

I love this bible verse.

“I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” (Zechariah 13:9)

Refining Silver

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” One lady’s opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject. She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

“But Sir” she said, “do you sit while the work of refining is going on?”

“Oh, yes, madam,” replied the silversmith; “I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.”

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver...

--Author Unknown

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. (Proverbs 17:3)

He will sit and judge like a refiner of silver, watching closely as the dross is burned away. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold or silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. (Malachi 3:3)

Sometimes I wonder “why God?” and I feel immediately guilty.

No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” - Romans 9:20

It is normal to wonder why things happen to us.

Some wonderful examples in the bible:

• Moses argued with God at the burning bush
• Sarah laughed at the angels when they told her she would become pregnant
• The Israelites complained that God had brought them out to the desert to starve and die
  
  • Job 30:20: “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer me. I stand before you, and you don’t bother to look.
  • David in psalm: Psalm 77:7-9: “Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again show me favor? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be kind? Has he slammed the door on his compassion?
• Jeremiah 15:18: “Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook. It is like a spring that has gone dry.”

• Lamentations 3:8 And though I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayers.

But its also important to see what God does for his children:

- Sarah bore her son

• Peter walked on water
• Moses had a staff that could transform
• God parted the red seas so His people could escape
• The Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat
• In Daniel 3 the three Jewish youngsters friends of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refuse to adore the image of gold made by King Nebuchadnezzar, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and they are thrown into the fiery furnace, but the Angel of the Lord saved them from all harm, whereas the flame consumed the Chaldean soldiers above the furnace.
• Jonah was eaten by a whale and LIVED
• Mary bore the son of God – she was a virgin

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:10-15)

• Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, cured the sick, healed the blind
• David killed the giant

It is not so hard to see that life as a Christian doesn’t guarantee an easy life.

For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion according to the greatness of His unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God’s comfort. (2^nd Corinthians 1:3-7)

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. (Isaiah 63:9)

And then of course there is this verse:

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me.” (Matthew 24:9)

Makes you want to run out stick your head in the sand. YIKES. Arrested, persecuted, beaten and killed. Would we follow Christ today if these were the guidelines?? How many of us forget to pray, put off church or keep your convictions to yourselves??

God’s word never changes but it changes things.

For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! (2^nd Corinthians 4:17)

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? (Even the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one. (Psalm 34:19)

I guess what I’m saying is yeah sometimes life stinks, but all good things come from the Lord. When troubles creep up on you instead of discouraging try praying.

“When something happens that deeply touches us, we often ask, “Why me, God?” We are quick to judge the event as good or bad. What if we were to eliminate the possibility that anything that happens to us is inherently bad and choose to believe that everything that happens to us is always good? Impossible, you say? It has to be one or the other, doesn’t it?

Belief systems are changeable. When we discover that something we have believed, even for a long time, is no longer valid, can we not simply change our mind and fully embrace the new? If you are crying out “Why me, God?” you must believe there is a God out there who hears you and you have hoped He would answer you. Maybe there was a time when you didn’t believe there was a God at all. If you changed your mind and opened your life to God, then you can also change your mind about judging events as being bad for you.

When we choose to believe that ALL the events in our life are good for us, even the ones that seem frustrating and painful for now, we are agreeing with God! When we choose to believe and trust God that there will always be a good outcome, we are trusting Him! Only God knows why we are going through these circumstances. Our new dialogue with God will be,

”God, this is going to be an interesting journey. I’m excited to see how you are going to bring good out of this one. I trust you will!” –allaboutlifechallenges

You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. (John 16:22-24)

Look to the clouds, keep your eyes on the only thing that matters. Yes we will face trials and tribulations but this life is just a stones throw away from our eternity with our heavenly Father. Jesus suffered for us. We can suffer for Him. Because really what is this life compared to eternity??