The gold we wear on our finger or around our neck is a beautiful example of the finest metal.  It didn’t become precious in an instant.  It took lots of steps along the way.

It starts from the ground up.  From the ground or in a mine there is a beautiful nugget embedded in a lot of waste and unusable junk.  That nugget is extracted and placed into a holding cart.  This is an example of us.  God loves us and finds us to be the precious nugget.  He will pull us from a lost situation to that of being redeemed.

From the holding cart, the gold nugget goes into the melting pot where all debris is boiled off.  It’s the same with us.  God turns up the circumstances in life to encourage us to walk away from damaging relationships and bad habits.

Once the nugget which is now liquid cools, it is tested for purity.  It’s the same with us.  When circumstances come to a close and we are on a mountain top we are tested.  Will bad habits come back?  Will we overlook God Who brought us to that mountain top?  If not, it’s back to the boiling pot or the circumstances.

Like with the gold nugget, we continue to be refined over and over until we are pure.  Depending on the purity will determine how we are used.

If a nugget continues to come out of the refinery with certain impurities it will be used to plate a waste paper basket or placed in a mold for a figurine to go on a shelf.

If we continue to come out of the refinery with the same old habits we will be used the best way possible or shelved completely.

If a nugget comes out of the refinery pure it will be used on a wedding ring or even a king’s crown.

If we come out of circumstances knowing right from wrong and use our experiences to help others, God’s use for us is unlimited.

1 Peter 1:6-7  New Living Translation

So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.