Thoughts from Daniel

My attention has been drawn, in these last days, to a phrase in the book of Daniel: "Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined" (12:10). These are good alternate words for "sanctification," when we get jaded by the same familiar term. Purify: "to clear from material defilement." Spotless: "free from impurity; unblemished." Refine: "to free from impurities or unwanted material; to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing." Ouch, sounds like it might hurt.

The identical triplet is found a chapter earlier (hmm, must be important). But what can it mean, I wonder, in 11:35, that "some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end"? They were already "wise"-but not yet enough for what lies ahead. God will allow them to stumble, so that he can do business with them and make them better.

We know that suffering of a certain quality, when mixed with faith, brings a substantial end to sin: "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:1,2). What a wonderful thought, to have this kind of a spiritual breakthrough. But do I dare ask the Lord for that degree of suffering?

I have a friend who was "wise." That is, he was a Christian. He "stumbled" and landed himself in prison, and in solitary confinement for five months. He emerged purified, made spotless, and refined. Just in time, I would say, to prepare for the terrifying things that lie ahead.