Christians, when I was reading through Numbers in my bible, I came across a scripture, one which I had read before and really not thought much of, but this time it caught my attention. The Israelites went to battle, they captured and plundered, and then Eleazar the Priest speaks out God’s requirement for the plunder; “Anything gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin or lead and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire and then it will be clean.“ It goes on to say “whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through the water.” It came to me as an example to encourage believers going through a trial, especially one by fire, that God has a reason for it!
Christians, we are saved, cleansed and made pure by the Blood of Jesus and His finished work on the cross, this Old Testament example is a view on God’s desire. He has trials and testing, although our sin is washed away, we still live in a corrupted flesh that is susceptible and God wants to help us deal with our flesh. God also has a specific purpose for each one of us, He made us to withstand different tests, different trials.
I have found myself in some pretty intense fiery trials as a saved believer. In the midst of them it is hard to see why, it’s also hard to look upon other believers who are going through trials but they seem so mild, so calm and pure as water. Christians, we are all made of different materials, we all have different breaking/boiling points, no one is better than the other, but I want to encourage you who find themselves in the FIRE!
You know who you are. You feel the heat, the pressure, you feel it burning up a lot of what was in your life, what you thought was a part of you. You feel some days as if it’s too intense, you might just melt or be destroyed, but God made you and He knows what He made your will out of. He knows what it can withstand, He knows what it can take. He would never put you through something that wasn’t good for you and He would never put you through something He wouldn’t see you through. What you are made of is valuable to God! His will and plan is to ultimately have intimacy with you (forever). He wouldn’t destroy or hurt you! And won’t test you beyond what you can handle. You will see it when you come out of the fire and you will thank Him, until then, hold on, you are right on track being purified, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. Number 31:22-23 (NIV)
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Luke 2:16-17 (NIV)
This third I will put into the fire; 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 (NIV)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2018
roadcrew 40|3 