Until He Sees His Own Reflection

Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.

Although the process for purifying silver and gold varies slightly, both metals go through a melting process that separates the precious metals from the dross, or impurities; so it is with the heart of man. The refining pot and furnace of the heart is the Lord Himself. In Malachi 3, God is described as a Refiner's Fire, and in 1 Corinthians 3 we are told that the Day is coming when our works will be tried by fire to determine their heavenly worth. Before any of our works can pass the test of fire, our hearts must be refined by fire. Like precious metals that must pass through the fires that melt them and separate them from the impurities they are intermingled with; so the heart of man must also be put through the fire that separates it from sin. The Lord turns up the heat of trials, tribulation, and persecution, in order to bring to the surface the dross of pride, selfishness, hypocrisy, rebellion, deception, and all the sin and wickedness that abides deep within the recesses of the heart. God, who is the only One who truly knows the heart of man, reaches down into the most remote and secret part of our hearts to bring up that which keeps us far from Him. It is only the Lord who has the power to take our uncaring and selfish hearts of stone and transform them to hearts of flesh that are then capable of surrendering to God, and serving Him for His glory, by the power of the Spirit, in Christ Jesus. It goes without saying that we, in general, do not enjoy suffering. We do not enjoy having to endure trials and tribulations. However, it is the process of having to walk through the fiery trials of life that begins to purify our hearts and prepare us for a life of service to our Lord. It is only as He puts us through this process that we are able to perform the good works we were created to perform, that will eventually pass the fiery test that will determine if our works are worthy of heavenly reward. What is most amazing about this process is that God does not just put us in the fire, and turn up the heat. No, instead He puts us in the fire, turns up the heat, then walks through it with us, keeping a watchful eye on us so that, like a precious metal, we are not ruined from being overheated. When we come out on the other side, and the dross of all the wickedness that dwells deep within is removed. The Lord then polishes us, like the refiner polishes precious metals, until He sees His own reflection in the finished product. When it is all said and done, remember this one thing...no matter what fiery trials we must endure in order to have our hearts purified, it is a process that is grounded in God's love, and His desire that we become more and more like His beloved Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).