I am amazed at how much time has passed since I have been to my own blog. It’s not because I haven’t had anything to say or that nothing major has been going on. It’s just called the changes of life. The twists and turns, or as some prefer the trials and tribulations of this life. I would love to share my testimony at this time, but I can’t because I am still in the fire! The message on Sunday was so powerful it just had us confounded. After service we were joking and I made the comment, “So if I die and I look over and see someone I used to know that means I have gone to hell.” Why did I say that? Because God is changing us into the image of His son, Jesus Christ. When He looks at us He does not want to see me, you, your pastor, or even angels. He wants every part of us to die!
My husband ended the message saying, “How the goldsmith knows the gold is pure is because when he looks into it he can see his reflection.” We may hate the trials of life. We find going through the fire, tiresome, wearisome, and disappointing. In fact, the word says, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11) The truth is without fire you will never be made pure. When Job was going through his fire he said, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10) The book of Job is just an awesome book to read to comprehend the testing and making of our perfection.
Job learned God is just and fair. Everything He allows is for the advancement of you. The word clearly states,” Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” (Hebrews 12:9-10)
Embrace the process. It’s only for our good! Our wilderness experience can either take forty days or forty years, or worse you never enter into rest! God knew there was a shorter way in the wilderness but God deliberately sent them the long way. The word says, “Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17-18) Follow God’s lead, be as Job and say, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” Love the Leading of God today, be trained by Him and live in peace. Stay Encouraged!
