Refine Your Faith

When we think of the word ‘refine’ it provokes thoughts of bringing something to a fine or pure state, free from impurities. To purify from what is coarse, vulgar, or debasing. To make elegant or cultured or to bring a finer state or form by purifying.  It means to make more fine, subtle or precise.  This refinement process is just that, a process.  It can be painful at times and difficult to endure, but in the end, the refinement is what God does to make us and shape us and mold us into the image of His Son. 

The Prophet Malachi, at the end of the OT, said it this way, “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. ² “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge (refine) them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.”                   – Malachi 3:1-3

This passage has eschatological themes all over it. It references the first coming of Jesus with John the Baptist as His forerunner, and definitely Christ’ second coming and the refinement of His people.  While the focus people here in this context is Israel, this also applies to the Church, at least with the refinement process.

If you’re like me, you don’t like the process that God puts us through to get us to where He wants us to be. It hurts, it’s uncomfortable, and it forces us to trust in the Lord more than we would have otherwise.  This is how God matures His people.  As believers, because we long to be with Jesus in heaven, we need to practice the experience of refinement in our relationship with the Lord so we can mature in Him while we’re still on earth.  We can renew our love for Christ daily as we read His Word and pray.  We can also develop a deeper faith when we allow the Lord to do what He does best to get us into shape spiritually and ready for His return.

Daily devos are all part of our Christian life and thought. Believers who don’t spend time each day with the Lord in prayer, His Word, and other reads or acts of worship will only detour their faith, growth, and usefulness to the Master.  Sure we are to be watching for the Lord’s return, but not at the expense of our time with Him or our service to Him.  A past high watch date can really take the proverbial ‘wind out of our sails’ if we allow it. However, we can choose to refine what we know to be true about what the world would look like during the season of the Lord’s return and allow that to move us forward in our faith.

I spend every day with Jesus. I get up early and read God’s Word, pray, and listen for His voice.  I can’t make it through my day without His presence in my life. We have passed a lot of high watches, but our focus must be on Jesus, not a date or season.  I have noticed a lot of watchers posting videos about the nearness of the Lord’s return; they share their formulas and various scriptures that, in their mind, proport a date or season.  While I would agree we are very close to the Master’s return, we don’t know the day or hour, no matter what a watcher may claim.  Please be careful to not allow yourself to get on that crazy train.

Right now, with all of the hoopla going on in the middle east, we should be praying for our president, the leaders of the world, our troops, and everyone else caught in the crossfire of this intense conflict.  I believe that because tens of millions of believers are praying for the Lord to protect and cover us as a nation. As a result, I believe that God will be (has been) faithful to watch over us; but not at the expense of believers sidelining themselves into a place of distraction or compliance with the world’s standard.  We need to be about the Master’s business, committing ourselves to a local church body, supporting that fellowship with our resources and service talents, and  encouraging other believers in their faith, because we see the Day of the Lord approaching. ^{(Hebrews 10:24,25)}  Are you committed to a local church?  Do you pray for your pastor?

I know it’s tough waiting and watching, but we have a job to do while we’re still here. I challenge you to plan long, strategize, and embrace your future, no matter how short of an offensive run it may be. At least you have a plan.  A friend of mine has recently signed up for our School of Ministry to get their ministerial credentials and continue their service to the Lord, even though they know He is at the doorstep of eternity.  Another young person is deciding on which college to attend and what their major will be.  Still another is contemplating their next step in their service to the Lord in light of all that is happening.  What’s your plan?  What is God doing in your life to refine you in your faith?  It was tough to crossover into 2026, but if this really is the year of the Master’s return, we need to get busy; if not, we still need to continue in our serve and allow the Lord to refine us.  This is the way of things, the way of the Master. Oh yeah, this is the way. (booooo whooooo!)

Maranatha!