“Those who hope for no other life are dead even for this.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
“No cogent (convincing, forcible) reason remains for supposing the soul dies with the body…. We (scientists) find strong reasons for believing that man is of extraordinary importance in the cosmic scheme…. It takes a lifetime to build the character of a noble man. The exercise and discipline of youth, the struggles and failures of maturity, the loneliness and tranquility of age— these make the fire through which he must pass to bring out the pure gold of his soul. Having been thus perfected, what shall nature do with him, annihilate him? What infinite waste! As long as there is in heaven a God of love there must be for God’s children, everlasting life!” ~ Dr. Arthur H. Compton (1892-1962… 1928 Nobel Prize winner in Physics)
The older I get the more I seem to appreciate that life is all about ‘learning to overcome’, best done with God and His Son, Jesus Christ close. To ‘go it alone’ without them may work well for a time. Then at some point loneliness and isolation, even crises can result in pessimism. Resigned to such drains the soul and darkens the countenance. The wise recognize fire through which they must pass to bring out the pure gold and are in steady preparation for it… best place to start, a deeper personal relationship with heavenly Father. kdm
The Refiner’s Fire
He sat by a fire of seven fold heat, As he watched by the precious ore
The closer he bent with a searching gaze As he heated it more and more.
He knew he had ore that could stand the test And he wanted the finest gold
To mold as a crown for the King to wear, set with gems with a price untold.
So He placed our ore in the burning fire though we feign would have said him, ‘nay’
And he watched the dross that we have not seen and it melted and passed away.
And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright but our eyes were so dim with tears
That we saw but the fire not the masters hand and we questioned with anxious fears.
And our gold shone out with a richer glow as it mirrored a form above
That bent or the fire though unseen by us with a look of ineffable love.
Can we think that it please his loving heart to cause us a moments pain?
Ah no! but he saw through the present cross, the bliss of eternal gain.
So He waited there with a watchful eye, with a love that is strong and sure
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat than was needed to make it pure.
~ Author Unknown
