COME FORTH AS GOLD
INTRODUCTION
Come forth as gold is a beckoning call towards a godly stance; even in the midst of suffering as Job of old, who declared: He (God) knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10). Scripture reveals Job was perfect (blameless) and upright and one that feared (reverenced) God, and shunned evil (Job 1:1). It goes on to reveal the tremendous suffering that came into Job’s life, not knowing that God had allowed it, because of His confidence in Job, that there was none like him in the earth (Job 1:8).
It was noted that with the severe testing came a fresh appreciation of God’s sovereignty and sufficiency for the believer’s life. There are many Christian’s, in the furnace of affliction, who are taking a stand, who can openly declare as Job, I shall come forth as gold, realizing that an Almighty God knows, and sees the affliction, and that His delivering power is real.
Come forth as Gold
David and Goliath
The powers of evil that exist are seemingly as little David opposing the giant Goliath. David was able to declare the he would come forth as gold in the upcoming encounter, saying: You (Goliath) come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield.
I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied; this day will the Lord deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you (1 Samuel 17:45-46). David (through God’s intervention) was victorious that day and delivered the Israelites from enslavement which would have been imposed had David lost the battle (1 Samuel 17:9).
Ability for Victory
Questioned
No other Israelite would fight Goliath even though a reward was promised: He that shall kill him (Goliath) the king will enrich him with great riches, and will gave him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel (1 Samuel 17:25). David’s ability to fight the giant was questioned by the king, who said, you are not able to go against the Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth (1 Samuel 1:33).
David’s answer to the king: I kept my father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered the lamb out of his mouth; and when he rose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and slew him. Your servant slew both the lion and the bear; and this Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God (1 Samuel 1:34-36).
David was able to boldly declare that he would come forth as gold, or be victorious, because He knew the hand of God was with him. Likewise, those suffering can be assured of whom they serve as well; a Mighty God in whose hand there is deliverance.
Apostle Paul's Come Forth
as Gold Moment
Apostle Paul gave a glowing come forth as gold statement in writing: I am now ready to be offered (facing death), and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (race), I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day (Day of Accountability), and not to me only, but to all them that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Paul revealed a time when no man stood with him; then acknowledged: Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, and the Lord shall deliver from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever (2 Timothy 4:16-18).
In was noted that no man stood with me, does not mean that no one cared for the apostle, but that in his final hours he realized that only the Lord stood with him. Despite his impending execution, Paul was convinced that the Lord would preserve him unto his heavenly kingdom.
Elijah's Come forth as
Gold Moment
The Prophet Elijah reproved King Ahab; a wicked king, for having forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and following after Baal, a false God. He requested that he gather the prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves (a Canaanite goddess) four hundred (1 Kings 18:18-19).
Elijah’s come forth as gold moment was His faithful reliance on God in declaring: Call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God that answers by fire (consuming a sacrifice offering), let him be God (1 Kings 18:24).
Scripture reveals: The fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, prepared by Elijah, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fail on their faces; and said, The Lord, he is God, the Lord, he is the God (1 Kings 18:38-29). The four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal were then slain (1 Kings 18:40).
Come forth as Gold Moment
Turned into Defeat
Scripture reveals that when Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and that he had slain all the prophets with the sword; Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, so let your gods do to me, and more also, if I take not your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time; and Elijah ran for his life (1 Kings 19:1-3). At that point Elijah’s come forth as gold moment turned into defeat.
When asked by God, what do you here; he answered: I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain the prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away (1 Kings 18:10). God assured Elijah he was not all alone, in saying: Yet I have left (reserved) seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal (1 Kings 19:18).
God then assigned Elijah to go elsewhere and anoint a new king over Syria. This conveys that one may feel they are in a hopeless situation but God sees the overall picture and will utilize His chosen for continuation, and calling upon them.
New Hope - New Horizon
Come forth as Gold Moment
At the moment inroads are being made towards freedom from countless measures of restrictive freedom that had been imposed in many countries. People desiring a return to godliness have risen in opposition towards ungodliness with amazing results. We are witnessing some having come forth as gold, beginning to stand as in the days of old, and in former years as prophesied by the Prophet Malachi (Malachi 3:3-4).
Come forth as gold moments are being witnessed as individuals become as little David opposing the giant Goliath, sounding the alarm, against the destructive nature that had been laid as a foundation, but has began to crumple, as some take a stand for the decency of mankind rather than the repulsiveness of what had been pursued.
A Return to God
We are witnessing global disturbances that are taking place in many countries; could it be they are being allowed by God to enhance His people’s return to Him, as revealed by God to King Solomon: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
It was noted that while this promise was given to King Solomon, regarding the people of Israel, it is applicable to all who will call on the Lord in repentance and faith. We had witnessed a withdrawing from God, from previous years, but of lately many are being drawn back to him, both nations and individuals, having their eyes opened to the truth.
A Refining Process
Job (formerly mentioned) said concerning the Lord: He knows the way that I take; when he has tried me (trials and temptations), I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10). It was noted that without the process of purification, the impurities (worldliness, unfaithfulness, and apathy) would remain. Gold, when extracted from the earth, does not look like gold, due to the impurities that mar its appearance; to refine gold, heat must be applied to force impurities to the surface, and then removed, with more heat being applied, then re-applied, until the gold is pure.
To separate from the world and consecrate unto God, a transformation of a person into the image of Christ, the process in which one’s life is made morally holy, there is a sanctification process through the redemptive work of Christ and the work of the indwelling Spirit of God. When one comes into knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, that process immediately begins; as one’s pre-conversion life dissipates and the newness of Christ comes in.
Apostle Paul wrote: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation); old things are passed away, all things are become new (Corinthians 5:17). Put off concerning the former conversation (conduct) of the old man (pre-conversion life), which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).
A Glorious Church
Come forth as gold is what was described by Apostle Paul, of what Christ expects upon His return, Paul wrote: Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify (set it apart) and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (the Word of God).
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; that that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). In reference to what Job knew to be true (previously mentioned) it would behoove the believer to be found in the same come forth as gold setting as he had declared; an unfailing love and devotion to the Lord.
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