Loving the Lead

Did you know that the Bessmer Process revolutionized the steel industry?  A man named Henry Bessmer figured out a way to turn iron into steel through a process of oxidation that removed impurities from the metal, therefore making a much stronger form of steel.

Why does this matter? Well, God wants to use the Bessmer Process on you.

Jeremiah 6:27-30

If you haven’t read the book of Jeremiah, here’s a short summary of what is going on.  God has instructed Jeremiah to prophesy to Judah the coming judgment of God, and essentially to be the “tester of metals,” or to determine what kind of metal these people are.  The Lord tells him that he will find people who are bronze and iron; two impure metals.

In this time period, lead was used to create pure silver, and much like the Bessmer Process, it drew out the ore from silver to purify it.  Jeremiah is the bellows (machine used to apply pressure) and the lead.  God has sent to these people a means of purification, a way to refine them into pure silver, but they have rejected it and because of this, are ultimately rejected by God.

So, what does this have to do with me?

Making pure metal such as silver requires the addition of materials that draw out the impurities, the application of great pressure, and fire.  Do any of these sound comfortable when applying them to the purification of a person?  Absolutely not. 

It is so easy to forget the difficulties that you can expect to accompany sanctification, and then when the opportunities for it arise, to allow the observations of others in your life to become hurtful and even offensive to you.  It is really difficult to take criticism and to get an ego check realizing that you have some big flaws, especially when it comes from people you love.


The process of purification is difficult, but it is ultimately meant to produce a stronger person that can much better reflect the glory of God.  

Expect sanctification to be difficult, but endure it with the expectation that you will emerge from it as precious silver.  When you allow Christ to enter your heart, He will begin to draw our the impurities and transform it, much like lead does to silver.  Rather than fleeing from the fire, ask God to amend the prayer in your heart to one like Psalm 139:23-24.

“Search me, God, and know my heart.  TEST ME and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Accept God’s grace in the form of the testing and the refining of your heart.
Don’t be afraid to get a good dose of lead poisoning.

Katlyn