Zephaniah reveals the coming judgment of the Lord -its righteous power and holy justice that will miss none who is guilty and not covered with His blood. It will consume all we have done, leaving nothing but His glory.
As I was reading these descriptions of fire, fury, and feebleness, verses from the New Testament filled my imagination as well, as if pieces from all over Scripture were fitting together visually in my mind. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:7). Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk (Acts 3:6). Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire (I Cor. 3:12-15).
The fire tries our lives today on a daily, earthly basis; and one day, the fire will sift everything in our lives and miss nothing. Everything not of eternal signification is and will be burned; it will leave no legacy. BUT what survives the fire -what lasts forever- will last through the fire and eve come out better...will come out PURIFIED. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land (Zeph. 1:18).
In Acts, the disciplines had nothing of earthly significance to offer -but even though they physically healed the crippled man, what they truly did have to give him was something worth far more than anything this life could offer. What do I have? What do I offer? What does my attitude reflect on the state of my heart? What do my words reveal of my character? What do my priorities point out about my soul? Are the things I have but wood and hay that will burn away in His trying fire? or will my legacy survive the fire and stand brighter, stronger -purer? Will I be able to truly, honestly say as I look into His face, But You knoweth the way that I take: when You have tried me, I have come forth as gold (Job 23:10).
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