The Heavenly Refiner
The Process of Refining
The Bible is filled with word pictures explaining how God operates as a heavenly Refiner in our lives, mirroring the process earthly refiners use to purify ore. This unforgettable imagery is meant to help us understand the purpose behind our pain – specifically, to conform us to the character of Christ.
We don’t develop Christlike character all at once. Character is forged over time, especially through fiery trials. We can gain much insight by understanding the refining process.
“For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.”
(Psalm 66:10)
Step 1: The Brokenness
The refiner in biblical times broke up the hardened ore so that possible precious metals of gold and silver could be exposed to heat. In truth, we are all rough rock in need of brokenness and God’s refining fire. The Lord says …
“Is not my word like fire …
and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
(Jeremiah 23:29)
Step 2: The Crucible
The refiner puts the broken, crushed ore into a crucible – a fireproof melting pot able to withstand extreme heat. Then the crucible is placed into the furnace. Our Refiner puts us into a crucible and then into the heated furnace to purify our hearts. The Bible says,
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.”
(Proverbs 17:3)
Step 3: The Dross
The refiner watches as the ore melts in the crucible and sees a layer of impurities – called dross – form on the surface. Then he removes the dross. For us individually, “dross” represents anything that keeps us from being all that God wants us to be.
“Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel.”
(Proverbs 25:4)
Step 4: The Heat
The refiner raises the temperature to higher degrees. The heat extracts the dross – the impurities emitted during the refining process. After the refiner painstakingly skims off these impurities, he then increases the heat and places the crucible back into the blistering furnace.
Again and again impurities rise to the surface. Again and again, the crucible is returned to the furnace to extract the dross. Why the higher heat? Our Refiner knows the exact temperature needed to extract the dross, and He knows that only certain impurities are released at certain temperatures. The Bible says,
“And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.”
(Psalm 12:6)
Step 5: The Purification
Each time, with utmost skill and patience, the refiner continues to remove layer after layer of dross – and the silver and gold become more pure and precious than before. The refiner continues this process until all the impurities are removed.
“I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities.”
(Isaiah 1:25)
Step 6: The Reflection
To gauge his progress, the refiner looks for his own reflection on the surface of the melted silver or gold in the crucible. The more dross removed, the less distorted his image. Only when the refiner sees a clear reflection of himself in the crucible is the process complete.
The Bible tells us that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). As we trust God to use our pain to purify our hearts, our character will come forth as gold.
“He knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
(Job 23:10)
