Sublime

[Apostle S. Louis Johnson]

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.
Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.

Isaiah 48:10 NCV

According to online encyclopedia Wikipedia, refining is defined as the process of purification of a substance or a form. The term is usually used of a natural resource that is in an almost usable form, but which is more useful in its pure form. It gave the example that most types of natural petroleum will burn straight from the ground, but it will burn poorly and quickly clog an engine with residues and by-products.

It is better to be “more useful” than to be “almost.” More useful says a lot. It means being at a level of conformance to the standard of expectation to meet the requirements of a specific application. It did not say perfect or flawless but by definition it is, made more useful. The process of refinement involves the removal of the residue and remaining debris material from which the desired product was drawn. Material that will not be used does not require refining. But that which has value and has a useful application has to be refined.

A refined material is not always pure. Pure is a term reserved for material that has reached the highest level of refinement possible. In order for a material to be considered pure it has to be in the total absence of any material not like it. It is not pure if something is mixed in with it. The most demanding and critical applications require material in its purest form.

There is a process that some refined materials can be made pure. Material that has gone through the next level or process of refinement is called sublimed. This is refinement by fire or extreme heat. Resublimed means the process has been repeated and refinement is taken to another level. Each time the material goes through it becomes more pure and with this it becomes more valuable and more useful because of all of that which it had to go through to be made. When this material is put into use it will not foul or leave behind undesired residue because there is nothing it other than what should be.

You have endured and have been found faithful through the process. Now it is time to leave the furnace of suffering and that process of refinement to serve higher purpose. Sublimed and resublimed through the furnace, it is now time to come out and walk into destiny. Weeping may have endured for a long hard night but now morning is about to break forth into a brand new day. Amen!

Apostle S. Louis Johnson