Gold as a Symbol of God’s People
Gold is an appropriate symbol of the true child of God, for the reason that it is indestructible by fire. The fire will only purify gold, while it will destroy hay, wood, iron, and most other substances. Gold is wonderfully tenacious. The particles of gold can be beaten together while cold, and no other metal can be made into so thin a sheet. So the more the true votaries of the Christian faith are beaten by the hammer of the enemy, the more they are subjected to the fire of persecution, the more closely they will cling together, and the brighter the luster with which they will shine out in the midnight darkness of this sinful world. Of His people, the Lord says, "I will . . . refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on My name, and I will hear them; I will say, It is My people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God." But of the wicked He says, "Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all5the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Reader, in which class do you expect to be found in the day of awards? Will you bear the fire of chastisement and refinement, coming out pure gold for eternity? or will you resist the purifying process, and become as "stubble," to be turned into ashes? Now is the time to make the decision. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve."