10 Yet he knows the way I have taken;[a]
when he has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.
11 My feet have followed in his tracks;
I have kept to his way and not turned aside. (Job 23:10-11 CSB)
We can take a scripture like today’s and understand the concept of following Christ and not turning aside. But too often we disregard what lies behind this portion; ”when he has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.”
We do not want to consider the parts of scripture that refer often to the testing we must go through. But the Bible is clear about the testing process that brings about a strong faith. It uses many references to describe how our faith and our character will be tested.
It is here where we must ask ourselves if we are not being tested, why.
Refining any metal requires forging so that impurities can be burned away. This is the dross in our lives that must be burned away so that we may be prepared for both heaven and our path on this earth. We are being refined into Christ image.
I know when I look at my life I realize just how much of me still needs to be refined. So much of me that needs tested and burning away so that Christ shines more clearly through me. I often get frustrated with myself. But through it all. Through all of my needed testing and refinement, I know too that God loves me unconditionally.
