The Furnace & The Hammer

In one of his books*, Max Lucado talks about the time he and his family visited Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. Max was fascinated by the work of the silversmith. The smith would alternately heat the silver in the furnace, take it out, and pound it with a sledgehammer. He repeated this process of heating and pounding many times until the metal took the shape he desired it to have. The final step was polishing. How did the silversmith know when he was done? When he could perfectly see his reflection in it.

I’ve never been thrown into a blazing furnace like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were. (See Daniel 3:1-23.) Nor have I ever been hammered on like Jesus was. (See Mark 15:24.) However, I’m sure that doesn’t mean God is done with me. I know I still need a lot of shaping and polishing before God will be able to see Jesus’ reflection in me. And therefore, I’m grateful for God’s patience and perseverance as he continues to work on me and in me.

But you are to be perfect,
even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

– Matthew 5:48 (NLT)

* Max Lucado, Begin Again: Your Hope and Renewal Starts Today (Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 2020), 61-62.