Refined Gold

Poor Laodicea church

The church of Laodicea was rich in their own eyes. They did not lack anything materially. But in the eyes of Jesus, they were poor. Why were they poor in the eyes of Jesus? Although they were rich in human eyes, when God looked at them with spiritual eyes, they were poor. Therefore, Jesus advised them to buy gold that has been melted and refined in the fire. Why did Jesus use the notion of gold refined by fire? Why did Jesus ask them to buy that from him? 

Should have longing for things refined by fire

There are things that no longer have values when burned to ashes in the fire. When gold is melted in the fire, rust is removed. When that happens, instead of decreasing the value, the purified gold becomes more valuable. Therefore, one should only have a longing for that which will increase in value when melted in fire. Material things like money, house, car, clothing, food, human body all lose their value when burned to the ground. Although these things are necessary for our day-to-day living, no one should be obsessed with them. Instead of chasing after them, one should be searching for imperishable gold. Are you one who's only pursuing perishable things? Do you spend all your time, power, and money for all those things? I advise you to look for gold that does not decrease in value from now on. 

Jesus the gold refined by fire

Jesus said buy from me the gold that had been refined by fire. What then is the gold Jesus was referring to? The gold refined by fire is Jesus himself. Before his death, Jesus was like the gold that had not been refined by fire, and after he died and rose again, he was like the gold that had been melted in the fire. He himself said of this; "On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:37-39).

Jesus metaphorically called the Spirit water. To thirst of that water means to have the desire to possess that Spirit. The Psalmist said, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"(Psalm 42:1-2). Everyone's soul thirsts for God. Because his soul is sad and restless, Therefore, the psalmist continues to write "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,  my Savior and my God" (Psalm 42:5) The reason for not having peace and the lack of contentment in your life is because your soul thirsts for God. However, because man does not know what his soul thirsts for, he continues to seek and pursue worldly things, money, material wealth, position, and power, house, car, clothing, food, pleasure, drugs, and his hobbies. Despite these things, he still cannot be satisfied. I would like to inform you that what you thirst for is only God. 

There was no glory before Jesus died

Jesus had no glory before he died. It is written in the Bible, "Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him." (Matthew 27:27-31).The reason Jesus could be mocked was because he did not use his glory. 

With glory after resurrection

After the Lord Jesus died, in other words, after he had been refined by fire then rose from the death, he was full of glory again. John stated in the Book of Revelation that the feet of Jesus were like bronze glowing in a furnace (Revelation 1:15). Jesus could feel hunger before he died. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. (Mark 11:12). He could feel tired:  Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey (John 4:6). People were not afraid of him. People mocked him as a demon-possessed person (John 7:20, John 10:20) and a Samaritan (John 8:48). The apostle John reclined on his lap (John 13:23, John 21:20). But when John saw Jesus again in his glory, he was scared to death (Revelation 1:17). The resurrected Lord Jesus has a spiritual body and he no longer needs food. He has a glorious body that can disappear. Therefore, he could be referred to as the gold that has been refined by fire.

Being content without Jesus

The church of Laodicea was poor because it did not have Jesus who was the gold refined by fire. Why did they not have him? Jesus was not in the church of Laodicea. Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Revelation 3:20) Jesus was knocking at the door. The church of Laodicea was content even though Jesus was not in them. The church said 'I'm prosperous, I have everything, I don't need anything.' Are you like the Laodicean church who is content without Jesus in life? Did the Laodicean church hear Jesus knocking on the door? If they did, they would have opened the door and let him in. Why did they not open the door? It was because they did not hear the knocking. Do you also hear Jesus knocking on the door of your heart? Those who are spiritually deaf will not be able to hear him. A person who lusts after worldly things cannot hear the knock on the door. 

Not as guest but as the host

Why does Jesus talk about eating with the one who opens the door? When he comes in, he does not want to enter the house as a guest. He only wants to enter as a host. Normally, a meal is not prepared by the guests. Only the host usually arranges the meal. Many professing Christians are satisfied even though they have not received Jesus. They are stuck with worldly things such as home, car, and money They are being content if they own wealth. If the building is good, or if the church has a great number of members and very active, people are very satisfied even if Jesus is not in the church.

Many born-again Christians have accepted Jesus but he is forced to sit in the living room. They make him stay in the living room for many many years as a guest without accepting them as their master. They do not allow him to rule their lives but live their own lives according to their own desire. Therefore, even after being saved, there is no sign of Jesus having any impact in their life. They are living the life similar to those who have not received Jesus. For that reason, Paul said, "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."(Ephesians 5:1) Still, they live according to their own desires.

Peter desires worldly things 

Peter said, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:27-29) Peter asked that question because he was expecting for his future, things that could be destroyed by fire in the first place.

Peter then had gold that had been refined by fire

However, after the death and resurrection of Jesus on the day of Pentecost, Peter accepted Jesus who had been liquified in the fire. When a crippled saw Peter and John who were about to enter the temple, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. (Acts 3:3-8) 

Peter had no worldly gold and silver. He had only Jesus, who was the gold that has been melted and refined. Using that newly possessed gold, Peter raised the crippled from his misery. If Peter had given him the gold of this world, that person would not have been healed. But when he gave Jesus the refined gold, the cripped no longer had to beg. He became completely healed. What the patient needed was not gold and silver, but Jesus the Lord. What you also need is not worldly wealth, but Jesus. 

Use Jesus

The boss gave his employee the company's credit card to use to get the job done where necessary. That credit card was to be used for renting a car, buying gasoline, or shopping for food. But if he failed to use the credit card, he could not accomplish anything. In the same way, Christ gave himself up for our every need. Because our lack of knowledge, we don't use him. How pitiful of us! When the disciples followed Jesus, they had nothing to worry in life. Jesus could provide them abundantly for their meal. They were healthy. When attacked by the Pharisees, Jesus protected them like a great wall. Jesus also calmed the storm in the sea for the disciples. They did not have to be afraid of evil spirits either. Jesus was everything to them. Is Jesus everything for you also? Do you use Jesus in your life? If you have not already, start using him now.