Isaiah 33:14-16 ESV
The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: "Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?" [15] He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, [16] he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
I was contemplating on this. These 3 verses speak volumes about our abiding in the Lord and about being transformed into His likeness.
God is a consuming fire. Who can stand in His presence forever?
The melting point of gold is 1,064 degrees Celsius, this refers to pure gold, or 24ct (99% pure) gold.
Once it is heated to that temperature, impurities are separated from it and removed.
But to use the gold for higher purposes, like in medicine, electronics and space industries, it has to be boiled further to be changed into gaseous form. The boiling temperature is more than 2000°C.
'Occasionally, gold is used in gas form to make incredibly thin gold coatings. This is done in the electronics, medicine, and space industries. Given gold’s high melting point, it is perhaps unsurprising that gold also has an incredibly high boiling point. The boiling point of gold is an extreme 2,856 Celsius or 5,173 Fahrenheit! Getting gold to reach this temperature is usually done with High Electron beams as even industrial arc furnaces don’t typically reach temperatures high enough to boil gold.' - an exerpt from the link below.
To read in detail about how gold is melted you may refer to the link below.👇
https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/index/gold/melting-point-of-gold/
Only gold can withstand intense heat up to 2,856° Celsius or 5,173° Fahrenheit.
Therefore we who abide in Christ Jesus are not just relaxing there and enjoying a holiday, doing what pleases us.
Some may think that when we come to Jesus we have no more problems, no trials and suffering. But they are greatly mistaken.
The real trials and tribulations start only when we come to Jesus and begin to abide in Him.
Just as gold is heated in intense fire to remove all impurities from it and further boiled to be used for higher purposes, we, the children of God are being purified in God's consuming fire daily. To further use us for His higher purposes, God intensifies our trials and sees if we are ready for His higher use.
You may think that this God Who puts His children under such intense suffering and trials is a Monster.
Our Father God is not a cruel tyrant. He is a compassionate, merciful and ever loving Father. He does not throw us who abide in Him, into the fire of His wrath.
Yes, God is the 'All Consuming Fire'. Yet, this same fire consumes us in two different ways.
1. God gently nudges, prods, and purifies us, His children, in His fire of love to remove the impurities in us and to shape us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
2. God's wrath is poured upon those who knowingly disobey, rebel against and vehemently sin against Him and who cause others to sin and rebel against Him. Why? It is because they are causing eternal harm to themselves.
We must remember that a moment by moment help to withstand and triumph, is given to us by the Holy Spirit Who is dwelling within us, who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. God does not leave us as orphans.
Therefore to abide in Jesus the vine (John 15:4,5), we branches must be ready to be pruned often. Only then, the fruit which the Holy Spirit produces in us will be succulent.
Someone who does not do the same things, does not speak the same way, does not enjoy the same entertainment that everyone enjoys or does not watch the movies which they watch, does not participate in the wrong others are doing like gossip or cheating for example, he will most often be ridiculed and ostracised by the people of this world. When we idolise the things of this world instead of putting God first, when we eat too much or eat way too little, when we eat or drink what we should not, when we tell lies or take what does not belong to us, when we are lazy, when we waste our time and money on the things of this world and on what brings God dishonour, there are sure consequences. Then we suffer the consequences which come in the form of sickness or a stern warning or discipline from God. These are just a sample of the trials, those who abide in Christ Jesus have to go through.
There are many more trials every human being will face daily. Like healrh issues, communication issues, not being able to see eye to eye with others, misunderstandings between husbands and wives, parents and children, parents in laws and sons/daughters in laws, between siblings, employers and employees, etc. Most of these, occur often in each family.
The one who has surrendered himself to Christ Jesus and who abides in Him faithfully, will be able to handle each trials with the help of the Spirit of God within him. Thus his perspectives will be aligned with God's perspectives. His character will be perfected. The fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control will be evident in his life.
Again, who can stand in the presence of our God, Who is a consuming fire?
The answer is:-
Isaiah 33:15,16
[15]He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, [16] he will dwell on the heights;
In short, it is he who wants to be holy, who is humble, is repentant, fears the Lord and trembles at His name.
It is him whom God is seeking to dwell within, as He says in
Isaiah 66:1-2 ESV
Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? [2] All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
God our Father seeks one who lives righteously, is humble and repentant and has the fear of God within him always.
That is the person who abides in the Lord and who allows God to purify him step by step, change his character and transform him into the image of Christ Jesus.
All who think that becoming a Christian will make them prestigious, powerful and wealthy will be sadly deceived.
All others who come to Christ Jesus thinking that they will have a jolly good time abiding in Him, will leave when trials and tribulations hit them. This is a sad fact.
So my dear brethren, who call yourselves Christians, are you ready to abide in Jesus our Saviour faithfully, without complaining, grumbling and finding fault with Him? Are you ready to die to your fleshly nature, die to your worldly desires and crush your ego under your feet and walk in the narrow way with Jesus?
If you are, then it is you whom He is calling, "Come Follow Me!"
Are you ready to be sanctified and transformed by Him, our loving Father, Who is also the 'All Consuming Fire'?
Yes? Yes! Great!
Then, come on and abide in Him our Saviour and our God and draw unending graces from Him as you are pruned, shaped and sanctified by His Spirit.
In humility, with repentant hearts and a holy fear of Him, we shall live and make ourselves His holy dwelling place. This is what He seeks as in Isaiah 66:2 and asks in Isaiah 33:146
Do not run away from the trials and tribulations we go through because these very same trials and tribulations are from Him Who loves us. These are necessary to grow our faith, help us to be persevering and gives us the hope that we will be with Him forever in His holy presence forever.
Paul emphasises this in:-
Romans 5:1-5 ESV
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
You may ask, "What do we gain in this world by abiding in Jesus?"
By abiding faithfully in Jesus, these are what we gain on earth:-
1. Peace, when going through trials, that this world can never give.
2. Hope of dwelling with God now and for all eternity.
3. Joy that surpasses all understanding.
4. Gradual transformation of character which is pleasing to God.
God bless you as you abide in Jesus, the Word of God and submit yourself to Him!
Be Blessed 🙌
Mary Augustine ✍️🌹
Friday 24th March 2023
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