by Cheryl S. from Virtuous Daughters, May 2005~Volume 5, Number 2 Recently, our family had the opportunity to volunteer at a pioneer festival. After our “shift” was over, we walked around to see the different skills being demonstrated. Because our son is fascinated with blacksmith work, we spent an extended period of time at the blacksmith shop. As we approached his work area, we noticed several items on his table in front of us. There were nails, fancy hooks, knives, hammers, as well as many other useful items. Even though the items were all for different uses, and were each uniquely made, they each bore a resemblance about them to which one could notice the special touch of their maker’s hand. After examining the different items on his table, and being quite amazed at how he could make such unique things from a plain piece of metal, we began to watch him work. He took a piece of metal from a pile. It was flat and long, but quite useless to the blacksmith, or any other pioneer that might have need of something.
You could tell that he foreknew the potential of this metal as he carefully examined it before placing it in the fire. To us, it was just a piece of plain metal; why did he treat it with such care, especially when there were more in the pile? He began to explain to us what he was about to do. He told us how the temperature of the coals was over 1500F. Wow! We were amazed. We were standing not even 10 feet from the coals, but felt no heat. Then he placed the iron in the fire. This would have seemed to be enough to destroy the metal, but no, it was only the beginning. Then he used a giant fan to heat the fire even greater. He told us that the temperature would reach well over 2000F. But as he worked, his watchful eye and caring hand never left the metal. He then explained that it was not the temperature that he kept his eye on, but the metal itself. It would change from black to purple, then to orange, and finally a glowing white. He continued to heat the metal, but never to the point of destroying it, only to the point at which it could become bendable and moldable. That point came, and as he drew the metal out, it was a bright color with a temperature of about 1000F, the hottest it had been thus far. Now that the metal had been heated to its maximum, it was ready to be molded by its maker’s hand. As he began to hammer away at the fiery metal, one wondered how the metal could take any more without being broken apart. Yet, one could tell that the blacksmith knew exactly where to hit the metal, and with what amount of force to use. With each blow we could see a change in the metal. But at times the metal would cool and become unwilling to yield, and again need to be placed in the fire. But slowly there was a transformation into something quite unique. After careful inspection by the maker’s eye, he immersed his newly made product in the cool water. You could hear the sizzle of the water as it cooled the metal. After drawing his product from the water, one could see the newly transformed beauty and usefulness of the once plain and useless metal. It, too, bore a resemblance to the other items made by the blacksmith. This once useless metal could now be used by the blacksmith to further his work, or be sent as he determined to carry on work elsewhere. As we walked away, I could not help but think of our great Maker. How, at times, we too are placed in the fire to be molded by the Master’s hand. I thought of how no one around besides the Master and His creation would feel the great heat being used. It made me think of how alone we may feel in our own fiery trial. But I was also reminded of how the great Maker never takes His watchful eye or loving hands from us. How He alone knows the amount of heat we can bear. All the while knowing that the time of fire is temporary, and knowing what the outcome will be. I wondered if at times during the trial, we become cold and unwilling to yield. I thought of how with each strike of His hammer, we are molded by the hands of our Maker. And after our Maker is finished with us, we become something beautiful and useful to Him. And each of us, although quite unique, bearing a resemblance of ownership by the Maker. Do we bear a mark of ownership by our Maker for all to see? So darling virtuous daughters, next time you are going through a fiery trial, do not forget the love and wisdom of the Maker’s hand and watchful eye, as well as the finished product that only He can see in us. Consider the words of our blessed Lord: 1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, although it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:9 “Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” Jeremiah 17:5-10 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” May His grace be with you always! Comments are closed.
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