James H. Cagle
“Whose (God) fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Mt. 3: 12).
To purge something is to cleanse it thoroughly, to cleanse it of all its impurities or that which defiles it to make it pure.
King Josiah purged Israel of its idols (2 Chron. 34: 3). God has and will again purge Israel of her rebels (Ezek. 20:38; Zech. 13: 8, 9; Mal. 3: 3). The Christian has been purged from his sins through Jesus Christ’s shed blood (Heb. 1: 3, 9: 22-28). The church must judge sin among its members and purge “out the old leaven” (1 Cor. 5: 7). The Christian must purge themselves of false professors and false doctrine (2 Tim. 2: 21).
Purging is a willful removal of that which is unclean and defiles that we may be holy and sanctified and used by God. That which is unclean and defiles still exist all around us. We simply separate ourselves from it for God’s glory and honor. We know we are in this world but refuse to be of this world.
But there is going to be a final purging where all that is unclean, all that is wicked and sinful, all that defiles and displeases God will be removed and will no longer exist with that which is holy.
The parable in Matthew thirteen points out that in the world, in the kingdom of heaven, the wheat and the tares grow together, but at the end of this age, at the end of this world, the wheat which are the saved and the tares which are the lost are separated. The tares are burned in the fire, but the wheat shines forth in the kingdom of God (Mt. 13: 37-43).
One day God’s threshing floor will be thoroughly purged, and the lost will be sent to Hell for all eternity, never to be seen or heard from again (Rev. 20: 12-15), and the saved will be gathered into Heaven (Rev. 21).
A Bend in the Road
I came today to a bend in the road
That hid all my tomorrows without a trace.
I slackened my pace and drew near its side,
And gave all my powers to discern its face.
On my side of the bend I kneel
As its mystery I seek to find;
Yet with all the wisdom of mortal man,
To its secrets I am forced to resign.
Though I would lean and look far in the curve,
The mystery still cannot be found;
For what is kept hidden behind its folds
Is guarded as sacred ground.
This darkness is deep and unrelenting,
Unyielding is it to my tears;
It will not give me a glimpse of tomorrow,
Nor help me conquer my many fears.
Then up ahead through the twilight dim,
The Shepherd’s voice I hear, so sweet;
Calling to me beyond the bend
Endearing Himself, this trial to complete.
His love of Calvary now strengthens my soul
As He beckons me to trust Him still,
Reminding me of His unfailing love
And that this bend is in His loving will.
I rise then with faith and skirt the bend
To remove the veil from its opposite face
And, regardless of the visage I see,
I kiss its brow with conquering grace.
There’s no way of knowing what the future holds
Nor of seeing down the road past the bend;
But one thing’s sure: I can count on the presence
Of Christ Jesus, my Savior and Friend.
For surely this, too, one day must pass,
What today I cannot possibly see;
Then up ahead, in the twilight dim,
Lies another bend in the road for me.
James H. Cagle
