Friday Sundown Worship: The Blacksmith and His Hammer

“As for you, ye thought evil against me: but God meant it unto good” Genesis 50:20

Several years ago, I saw an old fashioned black smith and his helper hard at work.  The Black smith held a big red hot piece of metal against the anvil and lightly touch it here and there with a small hammer to show the spots that need pounding, while some great giant of a fellow would then strike the metal with the heavy blow of a heavy hammer.  With each blow of the hammer, sparks would fly and there was the constant ring of the hammer against metal and anvil.

Someone in some distant time said “that God often permits us to be pounded about in trials and tests, but means it for our good.  He may permit the devil to help pound the saints into shape, but He guides the blows.”  Here is a word from the apostle Paul about trials – and he ought to know about them, he had so many.  Paul says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” I Corinthians 10:13

Men may bring us into trouble, and our whole life seems to be ruined, but God! Don’t forget those words, but God will bring you good!  He will see you through at last.  Give your heart to Him, and when you are God’s child His promises are yours, for “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:16-18

So the next time life gets tough, look upon Christ’s life here on earth, for Christ suffered and died because he loved us.  The trials and temptations we face are the hammer blows that are fitting us for life with Christ on an earth made new, free from sin, death and sorrow.  So don’t give up, continue to pray for God has promised that through His suffering and ours we will be glorified together with him in heaven and in the earth made new.