The Definition of Refine:
1. To bring to a fine or pure state; free from impurities: to refine metal, sugar or petroleum.
2. To purify from what is coarse, vulgar, or debasing; make elegant or cultured.
3. To bring to a finer state or form by purifying.
4. To make more fine, subtle, or precise: to refine one’s writing style
5. To become pure
6. To become more fine, elegant, polished.
Psalm 66:10 For You, God, tested us; You refined us as silver is refined.
When I think of the word refined, I think of being made perfect. Or being cleansed. I think of metal being purified by fire and polished to a brilliant shine. I also think of many of the prominent “characters” (for lack of a better word) in the scriptures, like Noah, Abraham, Job, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, etc. who were chosen by Father to perform specific tasks and who endured periods of refinement; but mainly I think of Christ.
1 Peter 1:7 so that the genuineness of your faith —more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I also think of everyday people. Some are people that I know personally and others that I read about or hear about in the news, who have also endured hardships of their own. Interestingly, what seems to define a hardship is the loss of something. Whether it is health, home, loved-one, pet, job or freedom, the loss of any of these things are what would define a trial or tribulation.
What I wonder most, is how many people realize that via the loss of one thing, another can be gained. It’s like the old adage that I’ve heard so often I couldn’t tell you where it originated, but have found to be very true: “When God closes a door, He opens a window”.
In the case of being refined, there are many things to be learned, which is why it’s so very important that we do not attempt to lean upon our own understandings when faced with any difficult time in our lives. We never know when Father may be using any particular circumstance to refine us.
Zechariah 13:9 I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say: They are My people, and they will say: The LORD is our God."
Some may ask, “But WHY do we need to be refined?” And, I may answer that question by saying because we miss the mark so badly, that Father had to send Her beloved son to show us how to live. And, not only how to live, but how to live righteously.
When one comes to a complete understanding of how far from the mark of perfection we are, how innately sinful and in need of refining we truly are, is when one becomes humble. And, when one becomes humble, one completely submits oneself to Father’s will, understanding that we are valueless without being pleasing in Father’s sight.
So, when we find ourselves amidst a particularly trying time in our lives, we go to Father in thanksgiving rather than complaints, rejoicing in the fact that whatever it is, is being used to refine us and that we are even found worthy of even being refined.
Objects that are worthless are not refined...only those that are considered of value are refined. One does not pick up a piece of trash from the ground and attempt to polish it and present it as having equal value as gold or silver.
Additionally, only Father and Christ determine our value. We cannot place value on ourselves. It is only if They consider us valuable in Their eyes that we truly have value. This is why, when we find ourselves in a time of testing and/or tribulation, we do not curse Her or ask “why me?” Instead we thank Her and rejoice in having been found worthy of refinement and seek Her guidance and wisdom so that we may grow and learn from the experience.
Isaiah 48:10 Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
I write this with many people in mind, including myself, but in particular, those who will find themselves left behind after the first Rapture occurs. The scriptures tell us that it will be a time in which many will curse Father for what is happening, not understanding that it must happen in order for Christ’s Kingdom to come into fruition.
Daniel 11:35 Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and cleansed until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
Daniel 12:10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
My most sincere prayer, is that very soon, when it is obvious that God’s wrath is upon the world, those who are witnessing it from the physical realm will hear this message and rather cursing Father, turn to Her in prayer and thanksgiving, hope, faith, trust, obedience and love. There are many things that would hurt a great deal to lose but there is only one we possess that is worth anything at all and that is the hope for eternal life.