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)

I have read accounts of people having their catalytic converters stolen from beneath their vehicles. A catalytic converter 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! As of today, platinum is $986 per ounce, palladium is $620 per ounce, and rhodium is $800 per ounce. But to look at old converters removed from the underside of vehicles, you’d never suspect their value, because they are usually dirty and rusty-looking things. However, the smelter furnace burns away all other materials, revealing the precious metals within. 

In a similar way, God looks within you

We look on the outward appearance, but “the Lord looks at the heart” and sees what is actually there. (1 Sam. 16:7). He refines us with His fire and reveals what is there. 

“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)