Would you prefer to soak in a hot tub, relaxing and soothing aching muscles and minds or would you prefer a trial by fire? A hot furnace has its purpose, purifying precious metals by removing their dross and impurities.
Which is more important? Each has its own place, purpose and importance. For hardworking people, the hot tub can be a tremendous stress reliever. But one cannot live in a hot tub. Life is not all fun and games. Nor is the hot furnace of life to be our permanent residence.
Each is temporary as life is temporary. We cannot control the dials on our spiritual hot tub because we live in a fallen world of trials, torment and tribulations. Only God can. We also cannot control the heat or the longevity of the hot furnace in which we find ourselves. Again only God can.
If you are a Christian and I pray that you are, Christianity is not frittering away your life in a hot tub as the world goes to a Christless eternity. Nor is it always suffering in the heat of trials. It is both, the latter being of first importance. If you diligently carry your cross in daily discipleship, you will to some extent be mentally, spiritually, maybe even physically bruised, battered and rejected as Christ was.
Be hot, passionate and sold out for the cause of Christ. The Lord says in Revelation 3 vs 16 “So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ” If you spend much time in your hot tub, you will become physically and spiritually water logged and wrinkly. God may put you back into the furnace to melt off your lukewarm indifference. “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” (Proverbs 17 vs 3) Submit yourself under the Lord’s sovereign hand and He will make you into a bright and shining trophy of His Amazing Grace. He will make something beautiful out of your life.
Always take to heart obedience to John 3 vs 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The story of the teacup says it well. “He painted me all over, the flames were horrible, I thought I would gag. He put me in the oven, I screamed, He said NOT YET. Then He handed me a mirror and said Look at yourself. That’s me? That couldn’t be me!! It’s beautiful, I’m beautiful, I’m fearfully and wonderfully made.”
God and God alone holds the thermostat (how hot?) and the stopwatch (how long?) Receive Him into your heart by faith today and He will make something beautiful out of your life.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Gary Tomiuck
Wainfleet Congregational Christian Church
