I ran into this verse (Rev. 3:18) in the bible and it really confuses me. I was wondering if anyone new what Jesus is talking about here in this verse?
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Why would I buy gold from God? and why is it refined? Help plz
Well, may be my little understanding may help. I believed Gold speaks of God nature in human soul, and this kind of Nature is not given for free, it has to come by what you suffered. Just like a raw gold need to go through fire for it to be refined so also for someone to experience the Nature of God in his/her soul such a person must pass through fire.
Ex 25:11
And thou shalt overlay it with
pure gold , within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a
crown of gold round about.
This has to do with Tabernacle
Ex 25:17-18
And thou shalt make a mercy seat of
pure gold : two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18 And thou shalt make two
cherubims of gold , of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
This has to with the mercy Seat
Ex 28:23;
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two
rings of gold , and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
This also has to with the Priesthood garments.
Job 23:9-10;
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take:
when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold .
Ps 45:13
The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought
gold .
Song 5:14-15
His hands are as
gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of
fine gold : his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
Isa 13:12
I will make a man more precious than
fine gold ; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
Lam 4:1-2
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion,
comparable to fine gold , how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
Zech 6:11
Then take silver and gold , and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
Zech 13:9
And I will bring the third part through
the fire, and 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.
Mal 3:3
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall
purify the sons of Levi, and
purge them as
gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Matt 2:11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;
gold , and frankincense, and myrrh.
1 Peter 1:7
That the
trial of your faith, being much more precious than of
gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Rev 21:18
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was
pure gold , like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was
pure gold , as it were transparent glass.
What Christ said to this Laodecians Church was also exact thing the Wise Virgin told the foolish virgin in Matthew Matt 25:9:
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves
So, the whole point is this: Many time the Lord has offered this Church the opportunity to obtaining His nature and attributes but they were pursuing something of the World. Through that they were unable to obtained what the Lord has in stock for them, they drag the Lord out from their midst; What should has come in an easier way to them, now turned into something they have to paid for severely '' WITH THEIR FLESH which they have yielded themselves to''.
As long a Christian keep on serving his flesh, doing things that does not touches/nails his flesh to the cross, A day is coming when such christian will have to and must go through what he/she has being running away from. In this time around, such person will have to paid for it in a bigger or huge way.
Buying Gold from Christ simply means, allowing yourselves to be crucified so that the Life and the Nature of God might be made manifest in you.
There is no Apostolic anointing without Apostolic persecutions and Trial
