Re-defining Refinement

Our pastor asked yesterday in church why it sometimes seems that the wicked prosper and the righteous perish. He asked this in context of Malachi 2:17. In this verse, Israel was demanding where God's justice was: the pagan nations were rich and powerful while Israel, God's chosen people, were poor and oppressed.

Asaph asks a similar question in Psalm 73. Honestly, he reveals that he "envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (v. 3). Using candid language, Asaph lists the "blessings" of the wicked; they appear problem free, healthy, strong, burdenless, carefree, and wealthy (v. 4, 5, 12). "What's the point then," inquires Asaph, "of following God."

"Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence" (v. 13).

Think of miserable Job; he did not have the same advantage we have of knowing the interaction between God and the accuser (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). All he knew was he, a righteous man, was afflicted by God. Job's good behavior and obedience did not seem to line up with the painful circumstances of his life.

But is not that the problem with the way the Gospel and Christianity is viewed in churches and society today? The Gospel has become the message that "God has a wonderful plan for your life". Truth be told the Christian life is sometimes no where near being hunky dory. Our obedience and the events of life do not always reflect that "wonderful plan" mantra.

Sitting in church, I thought through the difference between us and them, between "the children of God and the children of the devil" (1 John 3:10). Scripture tells us that "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and few find it" (Matthew 7:14). The Greek word for "narrow" in this passage means, "afflict, narrow, suffer tribulation, trouble" (Strong's Concordance). It doesn't sound easy to me. Furthermore, the passage in Malachi goes on to say that the messenger of the covenant is coming and "will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:1-3).

The refining process by a silversmith or a goldsmith is fascinating. One who refines precious metals does so by placing the ore in high heat. The impurities are then separated from the metal. The ore is left in the fire until the refiner can see his reflection in the metal.

What a picture! Christians may be struggling, undergoing hardship, and persecution. But we receive it because we are being made more into the image of Christ. God loves us and so is making us more like Jesus. What happens now in this life will impact the future, eternal one to come. Pagans are not being refined, so why should they suffer now?

Our hope is that though we experience trials and tribulation we are redeemed. Isaiah poignantly transcribed the words of God:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" (Isaiah 44:1d-3b).

As Asaph struggled to reconcile the evildoer's life with life God's children experience, he was reminded:

"Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strenght of my heart
and my portion forever" (Ps. 73:23-26).

--HM