When I was in dental school, we had to cast gold for our crowns, inlays, and onlays. The process involved heating the gold to a really high temperature (1948°F). The gold would first start to turn red and then it would start to melt. When the gold was totally molten in the crucible, it would start to spin in the crucible really fast. As the gold was spinning, tiny particles would sling out of the gold and burn up in the air. It would sparkle and burn up in air the same way as a shooting star enters the atmosphere.

The tiny burning particles coming out of the molten gold are called dross. Dross is defined as the mass of solid impurities floating on a molten metal. The dross has no value and it is often referred to as scum. The dross must be removed so that the molten metal is pure.

I always thought the process was really cool. It is neat to see the gold purified. As I continue to grow and walk with the Lord, I realize that is what He is doing in my life. He is purifying me. He is purifying you. He wants to make us pure like precious metal. His Word says in 1 Corinthians 3:12-13, 12 “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” The wood, the hay, and the stubble will be burned up and the metals will be refined and purified.

Paul says in Philippians 2:5, 5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,”. Paul is letting us know that we are to be Christ-like in all that we do. So, God the Father, tries us and refines us as a precious metal, removing the impurities (sin) from our lives. He continues this process our entire earthly Christian life to make us Christ-like and pure.

Proverbs 25:4 “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer”. For metal to have value, its dross must be removed. We have trials that also remove the dross from our lives. The heat is turned up to remove the impurities from our lives. James says to count the trials as joy. Trials may not seem like a joyous occasion at the time. But, when the trial is over, look what God has done in your life. He has removed some things that you didn’t need and you have grown closer to Him. These things grow our walk with Him and our witness to others.

Take a look at your own life as I look at mine to see where God is purifying and refining us. He is so AWESOME!

Dr. Barker and the Searcy Family Dental family strive to develop lifelong relationships with their patients by combining the latest in dental technology and techniques, including dental implants, dentures, cosmetic dentistry, and root canal treatments with a professional and compassionate staff. Looking for a dentist in Searcy? Call Searcy Family Dental today with questions or schedule an appointment with us by clicking here!