“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is”. (I Corinthians 3: 10-15).
The test of fire is the advanced curriculum of God to test the heart of men and to separate genuine love from lip service to the Lord.
Everyone who professes to be a child of God must at one point walk through the test of fire. This process isn’t designed to punish anyone but to reveal and refine the quality of our hearts as we walk with God. It purges us from the dross of worldliness and materialism.
Fire serves as advanced studies in God’s school since it will reveal to us our knowledge about the condition of our heart in our walk with the Lord and also teach us many things that have blindsided us to God’s plan for our lives.
It purges us it also asks vital questions-are we following the Lord for pure love or for what we can gain from Him? Are we focused on his hand or are we fixated on his face? Are we a material God can rely on as he builds his last-day army or are we unreliable?
A child of God ought not to be afraid of the test of fire because it serves as an instrument of promotion. How can this be we may ask? Because one thing is sure with God: He will thoroughly test whoever he would use greatly.
Why is this so? Because God wants his children to define their essence and confidence in Him and not in their possession or human confidence which are all vulnerable to the uncertain world.
If God will shake everything in humanity, the pride of men and their confidence in their abilities, He will therefore train his own children not to have their confidence in the world but rather to invest their heart in His love and power.
In Hebrews 12:27, we read: “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken –that is, things that have been made – in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain”.
The Psalmist understood the test of fire and learned to put his trust in God and not in uncertain circumstances of life when he said:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46: 1-3)
The earth giving away, the mountains falling and the roaring waters, and the quaking and surging represent the uncertainty of life and the danger of having our hearts shattered by the love of this world (its government and its economy) where nothing is guaranteed.
Teaching about his standard principle of fire Jesus said, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.” (Luke 12:15).
As we wrap up on the purpose of God’s school of fire we cannot help but to examine the story of the 3 Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were challenged with a literal furnace of fire for doing nothing wrong.
Thankfully they passed the test and their testimony changed their test of fire to glory and their devotion to God with a faithful heart transformed them into global renowned leaders.
Beloved, there is always glory after God’s test of fire: we see this clearly from the story of the 3 Hebrew men. Faith in God was all that mattered to them. While their devotion to God did not exempt them from trial but the quality of their heart in the midst of the ordeal ensured that God showed up for them in a mighty way.
When the fire of God’s test comes your way what will it reveal? Gold or straw? While gold will come out purer from the test of fire the straw will be consumed by the fire.
Today we have another opportunity to re-examine our walk with God and to reposition ourselves in His will.
Reading
Daniel Chapter 3
