The Purifying Process: God as the Silversmith by Cynthia Greene
As New Covenant Christians, the Holy Spirit works within us to mold and shape our lives so we become more like Christ. Just as precious metals are placed under intense heat to remove impurities, God uses trials and difficulties in our lives to purify our hearts and minds. The refining process is used throughout scripture to picture the ongoing sanctification in our lives that is in place to set us apart and make us holy. Just as a silversmith takes raw metal and refines it until it becomes something useful and beautiful, God is doing a similar work within us.
“…that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1 Peter 1:7)
In Malachi 3 and 4 we see an illustration of God as the Silversmith in our lives.
“ He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3)
God is always watching over us. He is more concerned with what is within our hearts and minds than our outward appearance. He is looking within for a pure and humble heart. Spiritually, God uses fiery trials to purify, shape and form us into His image. Often trials and difficulties reveal wrong attitudes and ungoldly thoughts like: pride, bitterness, unbelief, and impatience. Things we can be unaware of about ourselves.
David prayed about this in Psalm 139:23-23:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Once revealed we can turn to God and repent and make the changes needed to surrender and follow God in all areas of our lives.
God does not leave us in the fire without a purpose. He uses trials, fire, to refine our lives, strengthen our faith, and build within us Godly character. Like a silversmith knows the exact moment when the silver is finished,, God also knows when our purifying process has been completed. He is looking to find His character reflected in our lives.
For God has proved us and tried us, as silver is tried…We went through fire and water but you have brought us out into a wealthy place.” (Psalm 66:10-12)
Purifying Process
The purifying process is not without pain. And sometimes trials and hardships last a long time and require us to have patience. The process requires us to be strong in our faith, to rely and continually look to Him, and not waver in our belief and hope in His deliverance.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Video: Silver Refining Process
Video: Gold Refining Process
- Crushing and grinding.
Raw material is broken down into smaller pieces and ground into a fine material. In its raw form it has impurities and hidden flaws.
Spiritually, this is a stage where God is drawing us closer to Him and is a time for us to learn to place all our reliance and trust in Him alone. We have to put aside self-reliance, our own plans, and dependence on others.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- Smelting in a furnace.
The step where the raw metal is placed under intense heat.
This is a stage, fiery trials, can be difficult to bear, and often lasts a long time. Our faith is tested through suffering, pressure, loss, betrayal, chronic health struggles, or deep inner struggle.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
- Separation of impurities repeated heating in the furnace
This is where the material is shifted and shaken to remove and separate imperfections. As the silver melts in the heat, the impurities rise to the surface as dross. The refiner scoops and skims it away.
Spiritually, this is where the attitudes, emotions and actions hidden within our hearts and minds are exposed. They are brought to our awareness so that we can take them to God, repent, and ask Him for strength and power to overcome them. This time of correction and testing is necessary for deep spiritual growth and to draw us closer to God.
“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
- Deep cleansing bath.
Used to dissolve any remaining microscopic impurities.
This is where God continues to do deep work within us. There are things in the heart that only God can see, hidden sins. This is when the Holy Spirit brings deep conviction to our minds of things we need to repent of and overcome. Where past hurts and sins can be worked through. Ways we have compromised are brought to the light.
“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.” (Psalm 19:12)
- Repeated heating in the furnish.
The silver is heated again until it reaches a high level of purity.
- Testing and analysis.
Silver is considered pure when it reflects a clear image. At this stage, the metal becomes more reflective. A silversmith knows silver is fully refined when he can see his own reflection in the molten metal while it is still in the fire.
God uses fiery trials to purify us and shape and form us into His image. God does not leave us in the fire without purpose. He knows the exact moment when the purifying process has been completed. It is when His character can be seen and reflected in our lives
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
- Cooling and shaping.
The silver is formed and molded into its intended purpose.
Spiritually, this is where God begins shaping us into vessels fit for His use. It is about preparing us for the purpose and calling He has designed for us to live out in our lives. Vessels are created for different uses, and God forms and shapes each of us uniquely according to His will.
As God cleanses our hearts and minds. He is transforming our character. Hidden sins prevent us from fulfilling God’s will, but through the refinement process God prepares us to serve Him and do good works for others.
The Refiners purpose Fulfilled
The trials we go through are not without purpose. They are what God uses to shape and form His character within us. The pressure, struggle, and difficulties are used for God’s eternal purpose within us.
“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
