He sat by a fire of sevenfold heat,
As He looked at the precious ore,
And closer He bent with a searching gaze
As He heated it more and more.
He knew He had ore that could stand the test,
And He wanted the finest gold
To mold as a crown for the King to wear,
Set with gems with a price untold.
So He laid our gold in the burning fire,
Though we would have asked for delay,
And He watched the dross that we had not seen,
And it melted and passed away.
And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,
But our eyes were so dim with tears,
We saw but the fire-not the Master's hand,
And questioned with anxious fears.
Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,
As it mirrored a Form above,
That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us,
With a look of unspeakable love.
Should we think that it pleases His loving heart
To cause us a moment's pain?
Not so! for He saw through the present cross
The joy of eternal gain.
So He waited there with a watchful eye,
With a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat,
Than was needed to make it pure.
~Streams in the Desert, page 407-408
What I found so beautiful about this poem is the tenderness that can be found throughout the refining process that takes place in the life of the Christian. At the beginning the author admits that the nature of burning away the dross seems unpleasant and painful. Yet at the end of it all we see that Christ was there all along and He did not cause his child a needless tear. "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:4) How amazing that the Lord of Glory would regard us with such tenderness and mercy! Anything short of hell is an undeserved and extravagant grace.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
True Salvation
"Consider, the greatest sins may be hid under the greatest duties, and the greatest terrors. See that the wound that sin has made in your soul be perfectly cured by the blood of Christ! not skinned over with duties, tears, enlargements, etc. Apply what you will besides the blood of Christ, it will poison the sore. You will find that sin was never mortified truly, if you have not seen Christ bleeding for you upon the cross. Nothing can kill it, but beholding Christ's righteousness." Honey Out of the Rock, pg 3
Before I was a Christian my life was defined by duties. I would try my best to live every day perfectly so that I would have no need of God. Of course this was something I could not do, even at the age of 9 when the worst of sins usually are not yet practiced. Lying in bed at night I would recall the day to see if I had indeed lived it perfectly. There was always something that would come to my mind that I had done wrong, so I would purpose to try again the next day and surely I would get it right. Eventually, and very slowly the truth contained in the above quote dawned on me. I could do nothing to save myself because, try as I might, I could not live so much as one day in a sinless way so as to please God. Only the blood of Christ could satisfy an angry God whose hand was raised against me.
It is a common belief nowadays that works can save a person whether it's confirmation, taking communion, baptism, or even living a "mostly good life." Satan could not be happier with these false doctrines because they are industriously circulated through modern churches leading professing "Christians" to hell, all the while believing that trusting in self or works is good enough for God. If you are a professing Christian raised under this type of teaching I would recommend this message by Paul Washer entitled "How do I Know I am Saved?" where he speaks on the truths that define Christianity and supports them with plenty of biblical evidence. If there is any doubt in your mind, seek God without hesitation.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1050795550
"All that nature can do, will never make up the least particle of grace, mortify sin, or look Christ in the face. You may hear prayer, receive the sacrament, and yet be miserable, unless you see Christ superior to all other excellency and righteousness in the world, and all these falling down before the majesty of love and grace." ~Thomas Wilcox
"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure." 2nd Peter 1:10
Before I was a Christian my life was defined by duties. I would try my best to live every day perfectly so that I would have no need of God. Of course this was something I could not do, even at the age of 9 when the worst of sins usually are not yet practiced. Lying in bed at night I would recall the day to see if I had indeed lived it perfectly. There was always something that would come to my mind that I had done wrong, so I would purpose to try again the next day and surely I would get it right. Eventually, and very slowly the truth contained in the above quote dawned on me. I could do nothing to save myself because, try as I might, I could not live so much as one day in a sinless way so as to please God. Only the blood of Christ could satisfy an angry God whose hand was raised against me.
It is a common belief nowadays that works can save a person whether it's confirmation, taking communion, baptism, or even living a "mostly good life." Satan could not be happier with these false doctrines because they are industriously circulated through modern churches leading professing "Christians" to hell, all the while believing that trusting in self or works is good enough for God. If you are a professing Christian raised under this type of teaching I would recommend this message by Paul Washer entitled "How do I Know I am Saved?" where he speaks on the truths that define Christianity and supports them with plenty of biblical evidence. If there is any doubt in your mind, seek God without hesitation.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1050795550
"All that nature can do, will never make up the least particle of grace, mortify sin, or look Christ in the face. You may hear prayer, receive the sacrament, and yet be miserable, unless you see Christ superior to all other excellency and righteousness in the world, and all these falling down before the majesty of love and grace." ~Thomas Wilcox
"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure." 2nd Peter 1:10
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