by Terry Wane Benton<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/refining.png\")
All that happens to us in this life is part of refining us. Like gold is purified through the harsh fires of testing, and as testing refines and strengthens our quality of faith and character, we come out in the end with a glory that looks more like the glory of Jesus. That depends on how genuine our faith is in Jesus!<\/p>\n
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze<\/em>” (Isaiah 43:2).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold<\/em>” (Job 23:10). Think about how Job was tested, yet he believed he would come out somewhere as gold.<\/p>\n
David went through many heartaches and difficulties, and yet, this is the refining process in him, and here is how he looked at it all:<\/p>\n
“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance<\/em>” (Psalm 66:10-12 ESV).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We are either refined or we get burnt up. If we are refined, the end product will be beautiful in God’s hands! Be sure you have gold quality faith in the Lord!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Terry Wane Benton All that happens to us in this life is part of refining us. Like gold is purified through the harsh fires of testing, and as testing refines and strengthens our quality of faith and character, we come out in the end with a glory that looks more like the glory of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[383],"class_list":["post-37180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-growth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9922,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wasnt-judas-problem-betrayal-and-not-suicide\/","url_meta":{"origin":37180,"position":0},"title":"Wasn’t Judas’ problem betrayal and not suicide?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 27, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I don't think Judas' suicide was the great issue. The main issue was the betrayal of Jesus. Jesus even said the disciples that it would have been better than the one that betrays the Son of Man not have been born. It just seems Judas will be judged for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20392,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-do-good-people-suffer\/","url_meta":{"origin":37180,"position":1},"title":"Why Do Good People Suffer?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 25, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Based on a lesson developed by Darrell Hamilton Text: Hebrews 12:4-14 Write on board: SIN DISCIPLINE GOLD I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We see and experience problems as we go through life. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes we wonder why these things happen. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If a person is trying to be good, why doesn\u2019t God protect\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15158,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-god-knew-men-would-sin-why-did-he-create-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":37180,"position":2},"title":"If God knew men would sin, why did He create the world?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 23, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am wondering why God made everything: creation, mankind, and allowed everything to happen as it did in the Bible, especially since He knew what would eventually happen -- sin, unfaithfulness, redemption, etc. I guess this also relates to why God even created us? Answer: When I was walking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58557,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/patience-the-art-of-persevering-in-this-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":37180,"position":3},"title":"Patience: The Art of Persevering in this Life","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 28, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Forrest D. Moyer As Peter continued to list the characteristics that one must add, he named \"patience\" as being essential in our lives to keep us from falling and to insure us a part in the \"everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior\" (II Peter 1:5-11). 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