The Refiner's Fire

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." - John 14.21

He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat, As he watched by 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 fain would have said Him, "Nay," 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 shown 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 ineffable love.

Can we think that it pleased His loving heart To cause us a moment's pain? Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross The bliss 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.

--Anonymous