Ezekiel 22:18
Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver.
I was talking to a friend today and mentioned the word clinkers. He was not sure what the word meant and I realized that in our modern world there are many who have never had to deal with clinkers. Please allow me to share with you what the word means. Those who have had (or who still may have) coal furnaces know that as the coal burns it forms a stone-like residue that needs to be removed on a regular basis.
My parents had one such furnace and I can still remember my daily chore of using long tongs that were designed for the specific task of grasping clinkers and moving them to a receptacle. It was hot and smelly work and you needed to get the job done quickly. After the clinkers had cooled they had to be taken outside for disposal. I seem to recall that we used some of them on the unpaved alley.
When I read the word dross in today’s Scripture, I picture those clinkers from the furnace. It is clear the Lord is not happy when His people allow sinful behavior to form clinkers. God wants us to become precious metal that becomes more valuable to Him as the clinkers or dross is removed.
Right now is a good time for us to evaluate the questionable things in our lives that stand in the way of us being the Christians the Lord wants us to be. As we are honest in our evaluation, we need to reach in with the tongs of the Holy Spirit and get rid of any and everything that keeps us from being the pure and precious metal that will shine for Christ.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil