But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10 KJV
Job was being tested, as in a furnace, and he knew it. Scripture often uses the image of a furnace to illustrate the purifying work of God in a person’s life (Isaiah 48:10; 1 Peter 1:7). Some people go into the furnace and it engulfs them, others come out even better than when they went in. What makes the difference? Knowing the Lord, hearing His Word, and obeying it are what makes the difference. When these things are not true, then there is a lot of the world that gets burned up in the furnace. But when they are true, then that faith, which is more precious than gold, shines through. Gold is not afraid of the fire. The fire only makes it purer and brighter. Job had that confidence of and so should we.
Lord, I do not always enjoy being in the furnace of affliction, but I have always appreciated the result. I am better for all the sin and wickedness of this world that You have already dealt with, but I know there is still more of Your purifying work to be done. I would rather be tried and come out like gold, then untried and left crusty and useless.
