I believe it was Charles Spurgeon who said, “The refiner is never far from the mouth of the furnace when his gold is in the fire.” That gold means everything to the refiner. So when he’s doing the necessary work of refining in the furnace, there is nothing that will divert his attention. He’s always careful, always close, and always in control. Why wouldn’t he be? His gold is in the fire.
Christians throughout time have experience some fiery trials, from deadly persecution to ridicule and shaming for the sake of Christ. But even if we are not facing deadly persecution, there are a multitude of trials the Lord allows us to experience.
There are trials at work and trials in the home, trials connected to relationships, or trials linked to our physical and emotional health. As a Christian every one of those trials can become a spiritual struggle. We wonder why God is allowing the struggle or how long it will last. We can begin to question his love and his presence. Has he forgotten us? Is he even aware of our struggle?
The bible makes it very clear. There is nothing about us to be loved or desired. We prove that every day with our sinful behavior. But the Bible also makes clear that God loves and desires us more than we could ever know. He proved that when, in his mercy, he devised a plan to make us his own. That plan involved sending his own Son as a substitute to live and die in our place to empty us of sin and fill us with his Son’s righteousness. That all happened 2000 years ago. Then, in the course of time, he let you find out about it and through the work of the Holy Spirit he gave you the faith to believe it. All so you could spend eternity with him in heaven. Until you get there, he allows trials because he’s refining you and keeping you trusting him so that nothing will rip you away from him.
Whatever trial you’re experiencing right now, remember you’re the gold, he’s the refiner. When he’s doing the necessary work of refining your faith, there is nothing that will divert his attention. When the trials are hot, he’s always careful, he’s always close, and he’s always in control. Why wouldn’t he be? You’re his gold.
I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” – Zechariah 13:9
