Gold

 
              Gold is a very significant substance. It is referenced all through the Bible. When God created the Garden of Eden, the rivers that brought water contained gold. From the beginning of time, gold was made into jewelry and was considered precious and valuable. When God ordered the Arc of the Covenant to be built, He commanded it be lined with pure gold. The streets of Heaven are paved with gold, so why is it so precious? Gold represents an element of God’s divine nature. You can bury gold, submerge it in water, subject it to chemicals and melt it with fire; but it won’t be damaged or change its original substance. When we see God, we should consider His incorruptible nature and how precious He is to all men.
 
Matthew 23:17 You Blind fools! For which is greater: the gold or the sanctuary of the temple that has made the gold sacred.
 
So what is greater, God’s divine nature or gold? I believe gold can reveal God’s character to those who strive to know Him more intimately. God is totally incorruptible. He cannot be contaminated with man’s flaws no matter what we think we can do. Gold is valuable because it is scarce, in like manner God is precious because there is only one of Him. The more gold you have, the more power you have. Some will respect you and some will burn with jealousy.
 
James 5:3Your gold and silver is cankered and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You heaped up treasure for the last days.
 
James is rebuking some wealthy men because they got their gold by oppressing the men who got it for them. I would liken these men who wear long robes and impose their religious doctrine on others. But they themselves live by a different standard demanding homage of those they rule over. They call themselves believers and holy, but any resemblance of purity is rusted. They have taken something holy and pure and devalued it with the corruption within them. Religion always presents God in an artificial light.
 
1 Peter 1:7 The trial of your faith is more precious than gold that is marred, though it be tried with fire, might be found praiseworthy at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
 
We think the most valuable thing in the world is gold but God doesn’t share our thoughts. We will never impress God with
material gifts, nor will we impress Him by what we believe from His Word! It is when the world challenges  what we believe from His Word and we don’t compromise. That’s when God dotes on us. God puts a greater value on our unwavering faith than the value we put on gold. What can we give a God who has everything? A commitment to believe and act on everything He says.
 
John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
 
Telling God you love Him means little to Him. Showing Him you love Him is more precious than gold. When you’re in Heaven, will you be impressed when you walk on the streets of gold? I believe that when we see the Master, the last things we will think of is what we are standing on. It will be in it’s place and we will be in ours.