“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” (v.10)
Refining gold or silver is a long process, heating the ore until it reaches a molten state. Then, as tradesman keeps the heat on, the impurities rise to the surface. He then begins to skim off the impurities and keeps skimming until all the dross is burned off and the metal is finally pure. He knows it’s pure when He can see His own reflection in the liquid ore.
God refines his children in a similar way, through our trials “(furnace of affliction). And He keeps the heat on us until He can see His reflection in our lives. Charles Spurgeon once said of his trials: “I bear willing witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to anything else in my Lord's workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most.” So true!
Some of us have been through more in life than others, yet all of us still have more to come, for we are all still under construction. We are all not yet what we will be, for our maker is still at work; grinding, shaping, sanding, and refining our lives. But do not loose heart, for the Master Builder knows what He is making and sees the finished product to be used for His glory.
It has been said, “It is a great help when passing through the fire to know that we are there because there is gold to be extracted or silver to be refined as well as dross to purge away.”
The Truth: “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Refining gold or silver is a long process, heating the ore until it reaches a molten state. Then, as tradesman keeps the heat on, the impurities rise to the surface. He then begins to skim off the impurities and keeps skimming until all the dross is burned off and the metal is finally pure. He knows it’s pure when He can see His own reflection in the liquid ore.
God refines his children in a similar way, through our trials “(furnace of affliction). And He keeps the heat on us until He can see His reflection in our lives. Charles Spurgeon once said of his trials: “I bear willing witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to anything else in my Lord's workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most.” So true!
Some of us have been through more in life than others, yet all of us still have more to come, for we are all still under construction. We are all not yet what we will be, for our maker is still at work; grinding, shaping, sanding, and refining our lives. But do not loose heart, for the Master Builder knows what He is making and sees the finished product to be used for His glory.
It has been said, “It is a great help when passing through the fire to know that we are there because there is gold to be extracted or silver to be refined as well as dross to purge away.”
The Truth: “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
