A Refiner and Purifier

“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

I had to do it. I wasn’t looking forward to it. In fact, if it hadn’t been absolutely necessary, I would never have put him through it, but it was. His very health was at stake, and because of that, even knowing that he’d hate it, I had to dump my cat into a tub of water and give him a real bath, complete with flea and tick shampoo.

You see, Sampson has taken to, well, catting around with a bunch of raccoons. It’s not my plan and certainly not my preference. I’ve told him, time and time again, that it’s a bad idea. I’ve put up barriers, tried to entice him to stay where he belongs, given him everything he needs; and yet, several nights a week, Sam chooses to pop through that pet door, hop the fence, and hang with his masked friends next door. I’ve seen them, three raccoons and Sampson crossing the street together like it’s totally normal. Never mind the fact that Sam is not a raccoon. Never mind the fact that Sam was never intended to run around with wild animals. Out the door he heads and when he comes home…well, even a cat can not avoid the consequences of his choices. So into the bath he went, screaming and struggling, not understanding that he had to be washed for his own sake.

Tonight, as I marveled at his stubborn insistence and shook my head, I got a little nudge from God. “Do you think you do not do the same?” My Father prodded. “I’ve told you time and time again, you were not made to live as the world lives. Have I not made it clear, you will die from lack of discipline, led astray by your own great folly?” (Proverbs 5:23) Yet, like Israel, I am “stiff necked and do not listen.” (Jeremiah 17:23)

Like Sampson, I am full of parasites and try as I may there’s nothing I can do to rid myself of them. Like the fleas that afflict Sampson’s body, my parasites: idolatry, worry, hate, impatience, selfishness, unbelief, pride and a host of other ones, seek to take my life. They will suck the very marrow from my bones until all that is within me is corrupt and dead. Ah, but thankfully, my God is a Refiner. Patiently, He works with me, holding me in the fire, so that I may be purified, tested and found as pure gold. (2 Peter 3:9)

In the midst of the fire, it is tempting to believe the lie that God does not care, or that He is not aware of my pain. It is oh so tempting to cry out to Him and claim that He does not know what it is like...to what? To suffer? This is the Christ who was betrayed by a friend, brutally beaten, then nailed to a cross and took my place, suffering the righteous rage the Father has for my inequities. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:6) I suspect He's acquainted with suffering. It is tempting to believe that He does not see my pain, but He has revealed that there is nowhere I can go where He is not. (Psalm 139:8) What then? Is He a mean God? Does He intend me harm? Of course not, He declares His plans for me are good (Jeremiah 29:11), but I must be refined. It is, as I told Sam, for my own good.

The process of refining gold is not a hands-off task. The process requires the refiner to be ever present, ever watchful, and it requires perfect timing – leave the metal in the fire too long, it will be ruined. The task is complete when the refiner can see his reflection in the gold. Christ, our Refiner, has promised, "I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20) His timing is perfect. (Romans 5:6) Through this process we are being transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18) so that He may present us to Himself radiant, without blemish, holy and blameless.(Ephesians 5:27)

I pray that we remember that our God is with us always (Isaiah 41:10), and that He is patient with us, not wanting any of us to perish. (2 Peter 3:9) Be of good courage, know that God is with us and at some point, we will come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)
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When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:9-10

Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: "See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?” Jeremiah 9:7

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver... Malachi 3:3

These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:7