There are steps to purifying gold, a reference that the bible uses for us as; tried and perfected by God.
John the Baptist spoke to the Pharisees – the religious leaders of the day, saying to them in Matthew 3:11 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” speaking of Jesus Christ. The word fire in Matthew is similar to the fire used her – The Greek πῦρ (pyr) matches the Hebrew אֵשׁ (‘ēš) for the word fire
Malachi 3:2
“But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He [is] like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
How Gold is processed
According to Business Insider Gold originally has impurities so it needs a refining process. The gold is washed in chemicals to reach a concentration of 99.99%. The lower the concentration the more washes the metal needs. The first chemical takes away the base metals and the second takes away the silver, so the remaining metal is just gold.
Temperatures inside the crucible where broken gold is melted reach up to an astonishing 1,400°. To add perspective, lava from a volcano burns at 1,000° – that is incredibly hot! At this point, other gold bars are melted together and washed with chlorine which then gives the gold a 90% concentration.
To reach purity, the gold is refined further into ‘cornflakes’. It is then washed with a chemical called ‘aqua regia’ – Latin for ‘royal water‘. Aqua regia is a yellow-orange fuming liquid, so named by alchemists because it can dissolve the noble metals gold and platinum.
Then it is turned into liquid and then dried into sand. Gold sand is the purest form you can get.
When melted into the crucible gold sand turns into grains. The grain is the final product of the refinery and then begins manufacturing to the desired cast of the manufacturer. Casting is a process where you put the grain into a mould, you put it twice through this casting machine. Throughout the process, gold is tested in the labs for impurities.
Genuine product
We see in 1 Peter 1:6-7 that the purpose of this process in the Christian walk is that we may have genuine faith. That genuine faith is more precious than Gold. As we read above, look at how diligent and particular the process the refinery goes through to get the highest concentration of Gold.
So, God does that same with us and proves our faith genuine. That genuineness is deep in the power of God that preserves us, that is grace through faith that saved us and keeps us saved.
Last days
In these last days as Jesus is set to return and rescue his bride (church), let us lay aside our sin in the crucible of God’s furnace, letting it purify each level of our dimension; the mind, body and soul. Let us seek that purification through the affliction and trials which gives us character Romans 5:1-5.
It will be painful, you will see the world temporarily succeed in their sin and desire that for yourself. The luxuries and fame sing to you a sweet melody that draws on the desires of your heart. This is why the bible teaches a sobering message regarding purification and holiness, a message that calls us to be set apart and of a sober mind.
Yes, find yourself in the crucible of your gracious and loving Father in heaven who has started a good work in you, and is faithful to complete it.
We are baptised with fire, the fire that keeps purifying us. It seeks out our evil desires and burns them, trials test our intentions and secret motives. Open your heart and mind to that baptism by the Holy Spirit, that his fire will burn up the chaff, the weeds and briars that grow in your heart. So we may be blameless and holy at the arrival of our Lord Jesus.
We are baptised with fire, the fire that keeps purifying us. Share on XStay sober in God’s holy word.
