Proverbs 17:3
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold.
But the Lord test the hearts.
Life is a series of "smelting", if you will.
We are tried and tested through each situation and circumstance we face.
Now some of those "testing" are what I like to refer to as "Self-inflicted" tests.
In other words, we do stupid things and place ourselves, by our own free will, in dumb circumstances.
Others come to us from outside our own influence and ability.
No matter which it may be, God uses them to refine us.....or, to put it another way, to bring to our attention character defects and wrong thinking. He does this in order to show us the truth about ourselves so that we can surrender these defects of character, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to change us for the better.
Let's take a look at what our character looked like before we took Step #3 and turned our will and life over the care of God as we understood Him.
Galatians 5:19-21
Adultery, fornication (or sexual immorality), uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry (we did worship at the temple of "ME" did we not?), sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy murders (Jesus stated that if we had hatred in our hearts against someone, then it's the same thing as murder), drunkenness, revelries.
Sounds like a who's who of addictive personality doesn't it.
Paul states that this is clear cut evidence of a heart that has not turned will and live over to God. In other words, someone who stands outside the will of God and is living by their own will. Paul goes on to say, "Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
No heaven...in their future.
No being with Jesus for eternity.
No abundant life here and now, or eternal life afterwards....
Just hell.
But Paul goes on to say that for the life that has surrendered to God, a funny thing happens. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in that life and begins to turn things around in the character.
Paul writes in Verses 22 through 23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is: Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Quite a difference in those two lists, isn't there?
Which list do you find working in your life?
The first one?
or the second?
That first list, which Paul refers to as "The works of the flesh" is central to the reason we use. The character defects we possess keep us from seeing truth and turning more to our own sinful desires. Those desires can only be overpowered by the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He brings healing for all the brokenness in our lives. He gives up purpose, hope and a future.
Sounds like a good deal to me.
How about you?
Paul goes on to write in Galatians 5:25 - "IF we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Living and walking in the Spirit of God is the recognition that there is a Power greater than myself who can restore me to sanity. Such recognition, and surrender of will and life to the care of this Power, let's me be free to simply follow Him through my daily activity.
That, my friend, is recovery!
God on you...
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