"Floating Dross"

"For Thou O God, has proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried." (Psalms 66:10) If you know what dross is, then you know that it's the impurities blown over the edge of the pot while the silver is being refined. I tend to believe that the real change in us will be witnessed in God's presence, but for now, this is how junk gets taken out. The law was given to help this refining process; not only was it given to show us our need for God's forgiveness, but it was also given to help remove the impurities in our lives. The process described above requires that they mix lead and silver together; the lead somehow gathers the impure minerals and then brings them to the surface, thereby allowing them to be blown off over the edge of the pot. The law was added to magnify our sins, thereby bringing them to the surface; one by one, the Refiners Fire continues to bring these impurities to the surface, and then He blows them over the edge. 1 John 1:9 says, "But If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (NLT) It is this wickedness that must be brought to the surface, because it is what causes the silver to remain impure. Interesting enough, it is air that gathers the impure minerals and brings them to the surface, much like the Holy Spirit does in us, convicting us of our sins and softening our hearts to have the desire to be cleansed. There is a pretty good test for you, if you want one: Do you care about being made pure? Is it your desire to not sin against God, or can you take it or leave it? If the Holy Spirit is within you, you're going to want those impurities removed; it's not even possible to feel good having them remain in you...

"And God has given us His Spirit as proof that we live in Him and He in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world." (1 John 4:13-17) NLT