Unrefined Chrisitanity

I think it would be safe to say that a majority of Christians agree with the principle that becoming a Christian does not free you from the prospect of any trials or tribulations in life. In fact, many Christians might even agree that these trials and tribulation are part of our growing process. In fact, this is even a Biblical truth. 'The trying of your faith works patience". My family and I seem to be undergoing our fair share of trials of late, and on some days it works toward building our patience, and on some days we lose the battle. I was watching a road crew the other day and I saw this machine that goes through and skims off the layer of asphalt and grinds it up as it peels away all that is wrong with the road. Potholes, cracks, bumps where the earth has shifted or roots have grown. I am finding that the cracks and bumps of my life are being subjected to this same process. All of the roughness and sin are being scooped up and ground down to a fine material and then fed through the filter of the Holy Spirit. Granted, this is not a process that is perfect by any means. Some days there are far more cracks and potholes than others, but there is a joy in knowing that as every piece of dirt and decay is filtered away, then I am that much closer to the glory that God has for me. I fear that our modern, culturally relative attempts at Christianity have allowed to many big chunks of sin and debris into our machinery, where it overflows and bypasses the filter of the Holy Spirit. I was reading about an author and prominent spiritual leader who was proposing that God would not send people to hell. I agree with him 100% God only sends people to Heaven, he does not choose to or delight in people choosing any path but the path that leads to him. We have sinned, we have fallen short, we are headed to eternal torment, separate from God. One lifeline is offered in the person of Jesus Christ.Be wary of a gospel that does not include this. Beware of a gospel that tells you that you have a right to be saved. Beware of a gospel that makes no demands on you once you are saved. We are to love each other...that is a fact..but we are also to speak the truth with that love. The gospel must lead to a daily examination of our lives and as the refining process moves forward, we can pray that the filter of the Holy Spirit becomes our first nature. Lord, help me to understand the purpose of any trials that may come my way. Help me to press on toward you in the refining process.