Faith of Gold (Rev 3:18)

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich - Rev 3:18a

These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus to the church of Laodicea in John's Revelation.

He is not speaking of physical gold (which will one day perish), but spiritual gold - our faith - which will remain with us forever.

The comparison between faith and gold is a good one.

Without placing gold in a hot fire, there is no way of knowing how much of it is genuine gold, and how much of it is made up of base metals. In the same way, until faith is tested, there can be no way to know how much of our faith is based on genuine trust in God or mere fleeting emotions.

If we allow it to, the fire of the trial will burn away the aspects of our faith that don't belong. We will come out the other side with stronger faith, deeper understanding, and clearer vision.

When we face a trial, we must be armed with the attitude that this is the very thing that I need to strengthen and purify my faith.

Tragically, instead of this, most people's first reaction to a trial is why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong?

There is a good chance you didn't do anything wrong. The trial may not even be connected to any specific sin you've committed.

When the purpose of your life is to accomplish your own desires and plans, trials will always be a stumbling block. But when the purpose of your life is to draw closer to Christ, trials will be seen as opportunities.

There will be a day when trials will be a thing of the past. But until that day, we must take advantage of them. They will make us exceedingly rich if we let them.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

Matt 6:19-20