Malachi 3:2,3 - Ready or Not Here I Come!

Mal. 3:2,3; Ready or Not Here I Come!

Malachi 3:2 (KJV)  But who may abide the day of his coming? and
who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire,
and like fullers' soap:
Malachi 3:3 (KJV)  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and
silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.


Malachi 3:2 (TLB)  "But who can live when he appears? Who can
endure his coming? For he is like a blazing fire refining precious
metal, and he can bleach the dirtiest garments!
Malachi 3:3 (TLB)  Like a refiner of silver he will sit and
closely watch as the dross is burned away. He will purify the Levites,
the ministers of God, refining them like gold or silver, so that
they will do their work for God with pure hearts.

In the process of refining metals, the raw metal is heated with
fire until it melts. The impurities separate from it and rise to the
surface. They are skimmed off, leaving the pure metal. Without this
heating and melting, there could be no purifying. As the impurities are
skimmed off the top, the reflection of the worker appears in the smooth,
pure surface. As we are purified by God, his reflection in our lives
will become more and more clear to those around us. [Life Application
SB]

The dreadful state of our nation calls for deep humility on the
part of God's people. The one all-important inquiry which should now
engross the mind of everyone is: Am I prepared for the day of God? Can I
stand the trying test before me.
I saw that God is purifying and proving His people. He will
refine them as gold, until the dross is consumed and His image is
reflected in them. All have not that spirit of self-denial and that
willingness to endure hardness and to suffer for the truth's sake, which God
requires. Their wills are not subdued; they have not consecrated
themselves wholly to God, seeking no greater pleasure than to do His will.
Ministers and people lack spirituality and true godliness. Everything is
to be shaken that can be shaken. God's people will be brought into
most trying positions, and all must be settled, rooted, and grounded
in the truth, or their steps will surely slide. If God comforts and
nourishes the soul with His inspiring presence, they can endure, though
the way may be dark and thorny. For the darkness will soon pass
away, and the true light shine forever. I was pointed to Isaiah 58;
59:1-15; Jeremiah 14:10-12, as a description of the present state of our
nation. The people of this nation have forsaken and forgotten God. They
have chosen other Gods and followed their own corrupt ways until God
has turned from them. The inhabitants of the earth have trampled
upon the law of God and broken His everlasting covenant.  {1T355}

The conversation of the Christian should be in heaven, whence we
look for the Saviour. Meditation upon heavenly things is profitable,
and will ever be accompanied with the peace and comfort of the Holy
Spirit. Our calling is holy, our profession exalted. God is purifying
unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. He is sitting
as a refiner and purifier of silver. When the dross and tin are
removed, then His image will be perfectly reflected in us. Then the
prayer of Christ for His disciples will be answered in us: "Sanctify
them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth." When the truth has a
sanctifying influence upon our hearts and lives, we can render to God
acceptable service and can glorify Him upon the earth, being partakers of
the divine nature and having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust.
Oh, how many will be found unready when the Master shall come to
reckon with His servants! Many have meager ideas of what constitutes a
Christian. Self-righteousness will then be of no avail. Only those can
stand the test who shall be found having on the righteousness of
Christ, who are imbued with His spirit, and walk even as He walked, in
purity of heart and life. The conversation must be holy, and then the
words will be seasoned with grace.  {2T317}

Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures.  While
reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable
expression in the third verse:
"And He [God] shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"
Mal.3:3.
One lady decided to visit a silversmith to learn about the
process of refining silver.  After the smith had described it to her,
she asked, "But Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going
on?"
"Oh yes, Madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my
eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for
refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be
injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the
expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye
is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and
love are both engaged in the best manner for us.  Our trials do not
come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can
endure.
Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "When do you
know the process is complete?"
"Why that is quite simple,"  replied the silversmith.  "When I
can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is
finished." [source unknown]