God's refining fire works within you!

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” (Prov. 17:3)

My company handles marketing for the automotive recycling industry. Some of my clients are recyclers of vehicle catalytic converters. It is a device attached to a vehicle’s exhaust system which converts Hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen into carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas and water vapor.

Something special inside!

What you may not know is that catalytic converters contain precious metals, platinum, palladium, and rhodium. They are very valuable! At the time of this writing, Platinum is valued at $986 per ounce, Palladium $620 is per ounce, and Rhodium is $800 per ounce. But to look at old converters which have been removed from wrecks, you’d never suspect their value. That's because they are usually dirty and rusty looking things. But, when they are placed into a smelter furnace, all other materials are burnt away exposing the precious metals inside.

In a similar way, God works within you

We look at the outward appearance, but "the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7). He sees what's there and refines us with fire. 

“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.” (Psalm 66:10)

Therefore…

“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Cor. 3:12-15)