The 4-minute video of this post explains “How God Tests Us.”
In the initial two minutes the metal refining process is explained; then that information is applied to the Christian by explaining the manner and purpose of God’s “testing” process.
The process is outlined in the video and points in a rather matter-of-fact style with concern on identifying the process and its parts. Nothing is said of the emotional pain that the Christian feels in the experience of testing. Newton’s hymn (see part 1) implied that the one going through the testing experiences emotions that are not easy to endure….
There are countless ways in which one could undergo testing by God. Anyone who is born again will be tested, as God will be conforming him / her to the image of His Son.
If you know that testing will occur and know that God’s purpose is to remove your dross and make you more holy, then you may be more inclined to endure the hardship instead of running away.
Highlight points are below the video.
Below highlight points are a few optimistic concluding remarks.
Highlights from the video:
- Refining process at a precious metal plant explained:
- Impure metals received
- Metal weighed and combined with flux
- Flux and the impure metal placed in a crucible
- Metal heated until it is molten
- Crucible removed from fire and molten metal poured into a mold
- Flux fuses with the impurities in the metal and since they are lighter, they rise to the surface [where they can be scraped off – below, you will find that God is using His fires of affliction to make your impurities rise to the surface where they can be seen and removed]
- Metal can be melted and cooled more times and shaped into smaller units to speed the process of extracting the precious metal from the impurities
- Acids are used to derive purer forms of the metal
- BIBLICAL PROCESS OF REFINING:
- When “testing” is mentioned on the pages of scripture, the above process is what God is doing via His Providences to Christians
- That is, He is extracting the precious from the dross
- He is not being like a difficult teacher during finals week; quizzing you to see what you have retained from previous instruction
- He is interested in your purity, refinement
- It will be to your advantage to remain under the testing hand of God (instead of running away into some more pleasurable experience)
- Some relevant scriptures:
- Proverbs 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel
- References for the above verse from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) Commentary:Pro_17:3; Isa_1:25-27; Mal_3:3; 2Ti_2:20-21; 1Pe_1:7
- Proverbs 17:3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.
- Isaiah 1:25 I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy. 26 And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.
2 Timothy 2:20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
1 Peter 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
CONCLUDING REMARKS:
Verse 4 from Newton’s hymn contains a very important biblical concept, that of poverty of spirit and mourning for sin. Those were the foundational points of Jesus beatitude statements beginning in Matthew 5:3.
In many places in the Bible, God calls for people to do those two things; or acknowledges favorably, those who are doing such. See link to Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) at Bible Hub via the following link: https://biblehub.com/tsk/isaiah/57-15.htm
The great thing about the above points is that the following verse indicates that God is working those two blessed attitudes into the person He is testing. Jesus spoke of those qualities being the most foundational of His kingdom citizen. That is, they are part of the essential description of a kingdom citizen. And they are part of the changes that occur in one who endures God’s testing.
Verse 4-Instead of this He made me feel The hidden evils of my heart And let the angry pow’rs of hell Assault my soul in ev’ry part.
The above is something to find hope in, because God is working spiritual poverty and mourning for sin into you; things you must have….
So, plan to stay and endure testing instead of escaping, avoiding….
The above video is from the YouTube site, Gen U Videos
Narrative that accompanied video at YouTube:
“How God Tests Us”
Most people think that when the Bible says that God tests us that He is checking to see how strong we are…but that’s not what the Bible says at all. See what the test is all about at this gold refinery. For more videos like this, visit www.GenU.tv.