What is the Fire?

Back to By David C. Pack

Two key verses explain how God uses “fire” to temper or purge those in whom He is building His character. They speak of the time of Christ’s Return, when all people will learn the truth of God’s Word. He states that He will have to bring them “through the fire, and refine them as SILVER is refined, and will try them as GOLD is tried: they shall call on My Name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, the LORD is my God” (Zech. 13:9).

Malachi 3:1-18, describing Christ’s Second Coming, amplifies Zechariah: “…the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, He shall come, says the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s FIRE, and like fullers’ soap: 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” (Mal 3:1-3).

Notice that it is the fire of trials (I Pet. 4:12) that brings the pure quality of gold and silver in one’s character. Mal 3:2 above actually states that Christ Himself is the “refiner’s fire” and all those who have built upon wood, hay and stubble will see it burned up. Yes, some may barely enter the kingdom of God and will receive a very small reward for the little bit of precious metal or jewels that they allowed God to build into their character. It will be by His gift of grace that they are saved. But because they have done little, they will receive little in reward—position, office, rank, status and glory in the soon-coming, world-ruling government of God. Though they will be there, they will be given authority over few cities.

Others will show zeal and seek God with their whole heart in this life. They will actively strive to grow and overcome the flesh and their faults, sins and weaknesses. Their first goal is the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33), and they keep their eyes squarely on it—and the reward that will come with it!

Christ asks the professing Christian, “Why call you Me Lord, Lord, and DO not the things which I say?” Those who choose to do the things that Christ says to do in THIS LIFE will ultimately be rewarded according to their works in the NEXT LIFE. That is God’s sure promise from Scripture. Nothing can alter it! What will be YOUR reward in the next life?

In Summary

In his booklet What will you be doing in the NEXT LIFE?, Herbert W. Armstrong concluded under the subhead “Your Part in GOD’S WORK”:

“In my over fifty years’ intensive, rich, active experience, since God changed MY direction into HIS WAY, I have observed that the very first need of every Christian, who is to GROW and develop this spiritual character, is to have his heart completely in THE WORK OF GOD, which the living Christ has called His servants to do, as His instruments! Our ‘WORKS’ are our part in GOD’S WORK—getting His true Gospel to the whole world as a witness—preparing the way for Christ’s coming. We are merely His INSTRUMENTS. It is GOD’S WORK! Those who condemn ‘WORKS’ are condemning the Great GOD who is the actual DOER through us as His instruments and Co-Workers! It is not, after all, our works!

“Those who are self-cantered, caring nothing for the WORK OF GOD, having not enough outgoing concern to want to help GET CHRIST’S MESSAGE out to this blinded, deceived, dying world, fall away. Those who centre their whole ‘Christian’ life and activity on developing their own selves spiritually, whose hearts are not in or concerned about this great OUTGOING worldwide WORK OF GOD, actually directed by the living CHRIST, develop only INWARDLY, until they shrivel up spiritually and fall by the wayside! Those whose hearts, their active, constant, earnest, fervent PRAYERS, and their tithes and offerings are in GOD’S WORK continue to EXPAND spiritually—they become HAPPIER—they become greatly BLESSED—their lives become richer and fuller—and their faces beam in smiles. They RADIATE! They PROSPER!”

“The New Testament is literally filled with instruction on Christian living—leading a new, different, sparkling, joyous life—or, perhaps more correctly, allowing Jesus Christ to live such a life—GOD’S WAY in them!

“How WONDERFUL is God’s Way!

“SALVATION comes—if we are willing—as God’s FREE GIFT—by GRACE!

“But we must be changed. There is DOING, not hearing only (Rom. 2:13). There is development of a new righteous CHARACTER. Yet, even that is CHRIST in YOU actually DOING it! Actually, even the ‘works’ are primarily done by HIM! But how WONDERFUL that there are righteous “WORKS” in the true Christian life—opportunity for more than salvation, priceless though that be—opportunity for higher position, rank, opportunity to SERVE, higher GLORY!”