Author – Dr Colin Blom
Understanding the fires of life that we experience.
“I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” Zechariah 13:9 NLT
I am reminded of my father, Thomas Blom, a great man of God, who was equally a humble man who worked on the gold mines of Johannesburg, South Africa. He often brought home what appeared to be pieces of shining gold for us his kids. We used to get so excited whenever he did so. In reality he would bring home pieces of Pyrite commonly known as Fool’s Gold. It has the appearance of gold yet lacked the value.
There is a test that will determine which is true or false gold, it’s the test of fire. Real gold will stand up to the test of the fire because it cannot be destroyed by it, the gold can only be purified by it. In order to get to the finished product of pure gold a gruelling process is followed. First the gold ore must be mined deep underground which often is an extremely dangerous job. Once the gold ore has been broken up into sizes that can be transported out of the mine, the ore is sent to be crushed by huge machines. Then it is ready for the furnaces which will melt the gold ore. This process is called refining, whereby borax and soda ash are added into the mix which helps with the separation of the pure gold and the impurities. The longer the refining process the purer the gold.
I wrote this from the place of my cave in 2020, and many do not know that it was a place that I through my own volition (act of my will and choosing), and with a prompting from the Lord, entered into for a season. Some may ask why would I chose to do this? The answer is quite simple. PURIFICATION!!! I know the mission and calling placed upon my life by our Father. When looking at the future for my life I know that it can only be accomplished through clean hands and a pure heart. I needed a crushing and therefore willingly entered into the furnace of God’s purifying Fire. This was certainly not an act of bravery on my part but rather one of shear desperation to be all that the Lord has purposed me to be. You see what the Lord has for me is so much bigger than me. My very anointed sister, Susan, said to me in her very British/American accent, “If it’s not bigger than you then it’s not God.”
One thing the fire revealed to me was that there were somethings that I considered gold but actually were not. Things that I held precious to me were illusions of value but in reality, were keeping me focused on slightly off-center truths.
You may be facing the fiery furnace of purification whereby the Lord is preparing you for the next season of your life. However, many of us do not enjoy the immense heat of the furnace and remove ourselves prematurely only to discover that we in fact are needing to face the same set of challenges and the issues because we have not been strengthened by the fire. We give up just as we are about to reach our total purification. What are those impurities you are holding onto? What is keeping you from becoming all God has purposed for you? I can never force anyone into a fire they themselves are not willing to enter into. I have made my choice to go through the fires of purification because I owe it to the Lord and owe it to myself to be the best for those that I minister to.
What is that area of your life that must be placed in the fire to be tested by it? What needs to be consumed by the fire that is holding you back from your destiny? Will you allow the Lord to purify you in this fire? It is worth every uncomfortable step you take through it, and you will not regret your decision.
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