Forged in the Fire
We have been watching a show called Forged in Fire. The show is centered around bladesmiths making knives and swords. The term forged is a verb meaning to make or shape something through the process of heating and hammering it. In the case of the show and making knives and swords, they are using steel. The blade-smith is required to take some form of metal whither it be a ball, billet, old car parts, chain metal or small pieces of metal and form it into a working blade that is not only functional but looks good. The process is a slow grueling process taking days, for this show the bladesmith’s have 3-4 hours.
One of the most fascinating parts of the process is watching the bladesmiths form the blade. Over and over the metal is heated up, hammered into shape, and then reheated. Most of the master bladesmith do this by hand, and then this process repeated until the bladesmith feels the blade is in the correct shape. Interestingly, the blade can look good from the outside but can be very fragile on the inside.
One of the final things the bladesmith does to harden the blade is something called quenching. This process involves placing the blade in oil or water. Oil is the preferred method for quenching since it cools the blade slower than water. Cooling the blade too quickly can lead to problems in the blade. Time and time again we have seen that the bladesmith did not forge the blade well and thus ultimately the blade failed to harden and sharpen. So, what can we learn from this?
God is forging you and me! God is actively shaping us through the process of sanctification to make us more and more like Him. We must be moldable, coachable, and teachable.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 1 Corinthians 3:9-10
Let the Master builder forge you!
Our foundation and structure are crucial to our success in following Christ. Just as in the example of making the blades on the show. Our foundation of Christianity must be solid. The heating up process, the hammering out of the blade, the quenching reveals how well the foundation of the blade is. We often see these few simple processes reveal all kinds of issues with the blade from cracks to issues that when tested, the blade fails.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13
Today is the day to check your foundation! What are you building your foundation with?
Will your blade hold up when tested? The Word of God tells us that our foundation and faith will be tested. It is not a question of if but when. The bladesmiths on the show are excited for there blades to be put to the test of cutting, killing and hammering. Are we rejoicing in the times of testing?
Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:13
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grived by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more previous than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7
But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall forth as gold. Job 23:10
