Proverbs 17:3
Everything
needs purifying. When gold and silver are taken from the ground they are part
of larger rocks of many different kinds. Not only are these two minerals rare,
but they both take time and energy to be extracted from their natural hiding
places. Gold and silver bars don’t grow in nature. Humans must make them.
Both
metals must be ground to a powder and then heated to just the right temperature
so that all the impurities float to the top where they can be carefully
removed. Then more heat, impurities removed. More heat, impurities removed.
This continues until the surface of the metals is shiny and can reflects the image
of the one doing the refining. Then the metal is ready for forming and making.
Our
hearts are refined in the same way. There are seemingly crushing things that
happen to us, things that give us the opportunity to look up and cry, “I can’t
do this!” At that moment we can choose to trust the LORD. The crushing gets us
ready to be purified. If we still hold onto impurities, more crushing is
needed, otherwise too much heat is needed to extract the silver and gold, God’s
image and character.
Once
we are crushed we are now relying on Him to carry us through. Gone are the
self-deceptions that we can do it on our own, that we don’t need Him. We are
crushed, remember. Then the LORD can begin to slowly raise the temperature to
remove the impurities. This is a slow process, a deliberate process. The
temperature must be carefully controlled. Things can explode if too much heat
is applied too quickly.
So
it is with our lives. Once we become Jesus-followers the LORD begins purifying
us. Sometimes He picks out obvious foreign materials from the crushed pieces,
discarding them. But most of the time there is a careful process of raising the
temperature, increasing the level of discomfort, until we rely on Him in every
moment. When we do this, we are then able to step out and accomplish great
things.
So
when you feel the heat being turned up, remember that He is looking down at our
crucible, carefully monitoring the temperature, making sure we are OK.