Coming Forth as Gold

Coming Forth as Gold

But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

We all seem to be able to identify with Job in one way or another.  Even in a smaller way we have all experienced some trial or hardship that would allow us to apply today’s text to our own situation.  Our all-knowing God is engaging in a work of spiritual refinement in our life until He finally conforms us unto Christlikeness.

We are aware that God, who knows all things, in a special way knows the way of His saints.  Scriptures like Psalm 139 reveal this unto us.  Our own study of sacred theology gleaned from our study of the Word and coupled with sound logic reveals it as well.   It is one thing to apprehend these things intellectually and quite another to realize them personally; especially when it seems that God has hidden Himself from us.  It ought to be a great comfort to us that God knows our way in a special way.

As mature believers, we should also appreciate that God, who could have made everything easy for us, chooses to try His saints.  We know what God could, do, but we also know what He does do.  The lives of all the ancient saints give evidence of God’s trying of their faith; Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac, Moses and the two-thirds of his life in preparation for the final third of ministry, and David enduring a variety of trials are all evidence that God tries His saints.

God lovingly uses these trials to refine us into the golden image of Christ.  By these trials we come to know Christ better.  By them we are able to identify with Him more thoroughly.  By these trials we are changed into Christ’s image more completely.  Tried saint of God, He knows your way and you shall come forth as gold!

Wise and Loving Father,

You know the way that we take,

and Your plan brings us forth as gold, 

more and more like the image of Christ.

Teach us to praise You in every circumstance.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice