‘Refinement of Faith’ of the saints of the Church of God

There is a process that the Church of God members must go through to receive a complete salvation. It is the 'refinement of faith'. The Bible recorded that there are numerous trials and refinement until we enter the eternal kingdom of heaven. It is because, only through refinement, can we be born as perfect heavenly people.

There is a world masterpiece children’s story called, “3,000 Leagues in Search of Mother.” It is about a nine-year-old boy named “Marco,” who makes a long journey of about 12,000 kilometers (7456 miles) from Italy to Argentina in search of his mom. Young Marco goes through all kinds of obstacles and hardships in the process of finding his mother. After a long and hard journey, he was finally able to reunite with his mother. Many people were touched by the scene of the reunion of mother and son. Marco overcame ‘the time of refinement’ until he was able to meet his mother he missed so much and live in happiness.

These days, we also have lots of refinement until we are able to return to Zion that is the Church of God, looking for our Heavenly Father and Mother. The process of refinement is also waiting for us until we return to the kingdom of heaven. However, if you overcome refinement like Marco did in the children’s story, you will enjoy eternal life and happiness in heaven forever and ever.

The word ‘refine’ means ‘reduce to a pure state,’ ‘purify’ or remove by purifying.’ The reason God has given us a process called refinement is to remove impurities from our souls and make them a work of art of perfect creation.

Of course, the process of refinement is painful and distressing, and the thought to avoid them will come to mind. Some people receive economic hardships, others through the people around them, and some through the knowledge and wisdom they lack. Refinement also comes from an appearance which may fall short of others. But the rewards of those who have overcome refinement are enormous.

1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

The Bible says that those who overcome refinement have ‘a worth greater than gold.’ It also explains that along with that, they will ‘receive praise, glory and honor’ from God in heaven. So the saints of the early church were always joyful and gave thanks in all circumstances while experiencing the refinement of faith (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Two thousand years ago, Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). The cross implies trials, refinement, sacrifices, and hardships. In the process of keeping our faith, sometimes things do not go our way and there will be lots of difficulties and you might even encounter hardships. Nevertheless, you must not give up the way to go to heaven. The reason is our present sufferings on this earth are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Let us all, the saints of the Church of God, be the ones who enter the kingdom of heaven by seeking our lost brothers and sisters and looking forward to heaven while believing in our Heavenly Father and Mother to the end.