There is a story we’ve heard of the refiner’s fire. A lump of rock is placed in a crucible and heated up to melting. As the rock melts in the fire, the impurities bubble to the top and the refiner scoops it away. This continues until standing over the molten brew the refiner sees perfectly his own reflection in the purity of the liquid silver or gold.

 

 

Thus we Christians believe, is God’s refining fire. Exposing our dross so that it can be taken away until the day we reflect perfectly the face of the One in whose image we are made.

 

 

Ah, but there is an unexpected twist you see when the face in the gold is looking to see! Face to face I see the one who’s looking back at me and the face I see is the face that’s seen by the one who’s looking back at me.

 

 

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

 

 

I am known by the One with the face that peers into the mess, looking, hoping, loving, working, waiting for the day when the face in the mess will emerge to return the gaze in wonder and ah! The knower shall be known and the known shall become the knower! The two shall be forever joined, forever one, forever sharing the journey of love, the journey home.

 

As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;

I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. (Psalms 17:15)

 

 

Are you getting the picture?