Forged through the Fire
My youngest son Kade is training in the skill and art of forging and welding. As a result, I have found myself more and more intrigued by fire and the power it has to weaken, strengthen, and purify. There is no more desired precious metal than gold. Let’s take a look at why!
Why is gold valuable? Since the beginning of time this metal has been at the center of man’s desire. Is it a shiny thing? Yeah, it actually is, but it is so much deeper than that.
If you are on a deserted Island, what is more valuable food, water, or gold? There are much more valuable things than gold. I would much rather have my wife and kids, than all the gold earth could supply. Without oxygen or a heartbeat what good is gold? From Spanish finding gold in South America to the Gold Rush in California the desire of gold has continued to cause the world to turn.
It took only two chapters for God to speak of the value of gold. Genesis (2:12 KJV), “And the gold of that land is good…” In the KJV Bible, gold is actually mentioned 417 times. Let’s look even deeper at what makes gold so valuable.
It always begins with Jesus and gold is symbolic of Jesus Christ our King. When Jesus was born, the wise men brought King Jesus Gold representing His Kingship, Myrrh representing Jesus the Prophet, and Frankincense representing Jesus the High Priest. The Gold Standard was definitely set that day!
Gold is also used to symbolize earthly riches (Job 3:15; 22:24; Isaiah 2:7; Matthew 10:9; Acts 3:6; 20:33; Revelation 18:12). Sadly though, when focusing on Gold, instead of Jesus, you place yourself on a path towards destruction. James 5:3, Jesus little brother tells us if you hoard wealth in the last days your gold or silver will be corroded and eat your flesh!
So why did I title this post “Forged through the Fire”? Gold, like Jesus, is described as indestructible.
When gold is uncovered on earth, it is not in the desirable condition that jewelers are looking for. The gold must be smelted in order that impurities float to the top for removal, leaving only the pure gold behind.
Jesus best friend on earth, the beloved John, who was the only disciple to boldly stand at the cross with Jesus’ mother Mary, describes the New Jerusalem in Revelations!
“The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall. The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the gold measuring stick: fifteen hundred miles, its length, width, and height all equal. Using the standard measure, the Angel measured the thickness of its wall: seventy-two yards. The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl. The main street of the City was pure gold. But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God—the Sovereign-Strong—and the Lamb are the Temple. The City doesn’t need sun or moon for light. God’s Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp! The nations will walk in its light and earth’s kings bring in their splendor. Its gates will never be shut by day, and there won’t be any night. They’ll bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City. Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in. * * *”
Revelation 21:15-27 MSG
The gold that John saw in heaven was of such quality that it appears to be transparent in order to reflect the pure light of God’s blazing glory. And God’s ability to purify is not confined only to gold; God has purified all who will enter His heaven through the blood of Jesus Christ. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Not only is God’s holy city one of purity by His design, so are the citizens of that city.
Let our daily prayer be. Oh God, let the Holy Spirit’s Fire purge us from the unneeded things in our lives. Replace this things with more of Jesus so we can shine with His Glory to draw the lost to you!
Help us to keep our eyes on you and our hearts on Fire full of your Spirit with the sole goal of bringing you Glory.
Help us to hear and obey your Word. The offensive weapon you gave us to defeat every attack of the enemy! Jesus himself led by the Holy Spirit used your All Powerful Word when confronted by Satan. “Then Jesus, armed with the Holy Spirit’s power, returned to Galilee, and his fame spread throughout the region.” Luke 4:14 TPT
Help us to be more like Jesus and to hear His words! As John the Baptist prophesied, “Those who repent I baptize with water, but there is coming a man after me who is more powerful than I. In fact, I’m not even worthy enough to pick up his sandals. He will submerge you into union with the Spirit of Holiness and with a raging fire!”
Matthew 3:11 TPT
Jesus came and gave us these instructions to purify ourselves with the Fire!
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus replied to the rich man, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Matthew 19:21
Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and then, all things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
In a world where our best athletes such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Tom Brady are unable to fill the hole inside them with fame, fortune, or championship rings made of gold. Let us not fall blindly into that same trap, but instead forge us into a weapon that takes out the enemy at every opportunity while saving countless souls for your Heavenly Kingdom!