Your Heart is Tested

Proverbs 17:3 - The crucible for Silver, and the furnace for Gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

In the 1990s, I trained with UNK (University of Nebraska-Kearney) cross country and track teams. The early 1990s cross country teams were stellar. They placed in NCAA Divsion II Championships 8th, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th from 1990 to 1995. Coach Claussen was given only 4 full scholarships to allocate, conversely the majority, if not all, of his competitors received 12 from their respective institutions. To place this in perspective, the football program at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln did not attempt to compete with nation's best with only one-third of the scholarships of the competition.

The 1992 team that finished third (3rd) was agrueably the best college team of American born runners in any division that season. The seasons began with the freshman often telling how good they were in high school, and an occassional person exaggerating on their summer training. The first organized training run of the year consisted of running to Cotton Mill Lake, a recreational area outside of Kearney. A nice trail connected the campus to Cotton Mill. The pace going out was moderate at best, with a great deal of laughing and joking around. Once we arrived, running the loop around the swim area, returning to the college; hold onto your hats, this was like a horse returning to the barn.

The pace quickly became intense, the 'heat' was cranked up; with the lead pack dwindling. The last two (2) miles over eager freshman, and those who exaggerated were quickly identified as they fell off the pace. A few freshman did remain over the years, they were indeed excellent runners. Covering the final two (2) miles in roughly 9:20 to 9:30 quickly displayed those whose mental and physical conditioning were pure.

Gold and silver are also tested for purity. A crucible is a melting pot, just as a furnace cranks up the heat; any impurities in the silver and gold will be revealed in intense heat. The silver and gold are tested to assure their purities.

Have you ever wondered why life is full of challenges? Have you ever questioned why God allows you to be tested continually between blessings? Foremost sin is real, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Secondly, God wants our hearts, our pure hearts.

Just as we desire pure gold and silver, our Lord desires our pure heart. The Lord places us, our hearts, in the fires of life allowing our heart to be tested, burning off any impurities. Does our heart, true desires match our talk?

Next time life 'heats up', the intensity quickly increases; know the Lord is testing your heart. Ask Him to allow the impurities to burn off; leaving only the pure heart that desires Him and His will in your life to remain. Ask Him to allow the impurities of laziness, complancency, greed, lust, gossip, envy, and deceitfulness to burnoff just as impurities are removed from silver and gold.

It is the impurities that create black, ugly smoke both in substances and in our hearts. God loves you, this is why he desires your pure heart. This is why He allows you to be tested continually. Thank Him for loving you enough to test and purify your heart.

Make it a Great Day in Christ!
Rick