Hearts Tested by the Refiner’s Flame

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

If you’re a child of God, and live faithfully, shouldn’t you rejoice to stand within His fire?

Today’s devotional reading: Malachi 3:1-5

The sinner can’t escape God’s judgment, nor can the believer. When it is said that every knee will bow, let us always remember that we will give an account to the Lord.

Believers will go before the judgment seat of Christ, also known as the Bema Seat. In 1 Corinthians 3:13-16, Paul spoke of how Christ’s judgment will be as a refiner’s fire. When metal is held over a hot flame, the metal melts, purifying it of its waste. The refining fire of Christ will reveal one’s works, and if one’s work does not endure the flame, it will be lost for the sake of that one being purified.

Malachi also speaks of the Refiner’s flame at the Second Coming. Before the Millennial Kingdom, those who come through the Great Tribulation will be judged. The sheep of that day will be refined by His fire and permitted to enter the Millennial Kingdom, but the goats won’t be able to endure the judgment (Matt. 25:41:46).

It does not please the Lord for anyone to be consumed by His judgment; He does not desire for anyone to be lost to sin (Matt. 18:10-14). However, it pleases the Lord greatly when His fire purifies His children, and they become holy as He is holy. So, today, we ought to live in a manner that will lead us to become holy as the Lord is holy.