A precious metal, valuable, durable, shiny, and beautiful – that’s how anyone who knows anything about gold could describe it.  The scholars may have a whole long list of qualities that our superficial knowledge does not know about.  The desire to mine gold is part of the discovery history of so many countries.  It was the impetus to venture into the cold north of the American continent and the cause of a protracted war in South Africa, not to mention all the other parts of the world where the rush of diggers had an impact on the landscape and politics.

The Bible often speaks of gold. It was already a treasure in ancient times and beyond the reach of most people – a hallmark of wealth and status.  Gold is mentioned in Genesis 2.  Abram’s wealth is calculated in terms of gold, silver, and cattle. Soon after, one reads of gold jewellery and gold as a means of payment.  (Genesis 24)

In the detailed outline surrounding the construction of the Tabernacle, gold was often used.  Everything in the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was made of gold or plated with gold. We know the Candlestick in the Holy Place was gold, the table with the showbreads was covered with gold, as was the altar of incense in front of the veil and the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies.  It was symbolic of the sustainability and eternal survival of all that belongs to God.  Nebuchadnezzar carefully stored the Temple elements. It remains impressive that under the favour of Cyrus, the exiles were able to take the golden Temple components back to Jerusalem.  Even in cruel wicked Babylon, God preserved the furnishings of the Temple, his House, until they could be restored to their rightful place. 

One of the outstanding elements of the New Jerusalem, spoken of in Revelation, are streets of gold.  It was always strange to me that one would want to walk on a street of gold.  Perhaps it was just to depict the overwhelming riches of God’s city.  Would this be a sign that no earthly city could ever come close to streets of gold, in order to afford most of the best?  It definitely indicates something divine and supernatural.

It was a delightful discovery to learn the symbolism and wonder of the streets of gold. In the Old Testament, gold was a means of payment, a sign of wealth and status and the jewels of men and women, but also the beginning of the symbolic doctrine of the process of purifying gold. 

He will sit down as one who melts and purifies silver.

He will cleanse the Levites and purify them like gold and silver.

They will belong to the Lord, offering sacrifices in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3)

The same idea of God cultivating gold in his children with the purification process of fire is mentioned at Zechariah 13:9.  

And the third part I will bring to the fire, and refine them as a man refines silver, and test them as gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them. I’ll say, ‘They’re my people,’ and they’ll say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ “

These are just a few of many examples.

In the pen of the New Testament’s writers, the symbolic properties of gold and the process of purifying gold as a spiritual principle are further elaborated.  It is in this context that we begin to understand the meaning of streets of gold.

In the question Paul asks the Corinthians, he implies that we, the followers of Jesus, have gold to “build” with.

Whether someone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass or straw – everyone’s work will become clear, because that day will bring it to light. By fire it will be revealed, and the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.  (1 Corinthians 3:12,13)

The reference to fire, again, points to the purification process spoken of in the Old Testament. The foundation is the salvation we get by accepting the Death on the Cross of Jesus.  Evidently, we have a choice with which to build — lasting things or things that will perish in the fire.

Fire in the Bible indicates a process of purification.  It is indeed the symbol of the Holy Spirit because it is He who convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment.  Peter was sitting by the fire in the High Priest’s courtyard when he was confronted about his association with Jesus.  This is symbolic of his “baptism of fire” of betrayal for which he had to confess and then be restored in a relationship with the resurrected Jesus.  

God’s fire is chastisement and correction, not for the purpose of judgment and rejection, but rather insight and improvement for the purpose of restoration.  Imagine how wonderful God is to communicate to us in His perfect love, the specific rebuke of the Holy Spirit.  We are never unsure.  Like the criticism prophesied to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3, the purpose of criticism is correction and remedy, so that our image of Jesus does not fade.  We know exactly what God expects in contrast to the multitude of gods of the Greeks and Romans.  Which one exactly was so angry that I’m doing so badly?

The goal was that it would be clear that the authenticity of your faith—an authenticity far more precious than gold, which is perishable yet  tested with fire—culminates in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7)

It is here on earth that we walk the streets of gold in the New Jerusalem, the true Church.  It is faith that is being tested.  How will we conquer evil?  

They conquered him,

on the basis of the blood of the Lamb,

and on the basis of their testimony.  (Revelation 12:11a)

The blood of the Lamb is our foundation.  Our testimony is gold refined by fire.  How will we know that God can deliver and save, perform miracles, and intervene mightily in our circumstances if we do not experience and endure the “fire” of brokenness?  It is faith purified by fire, more precious than gold, that characterizes our course of life.  That’s how we walk – on gold.  This is the hallmark of a path with God — a street of gold.

Because you say, “I am rich, I have become rich, and lack nothing,” and do not realize that you are miserable and pitiful, destitute, blind, and naked, I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may dress,  and the shame of your nakedness does not become visible; and ointment to smear on your eyes, that you may see.  (Revelation 3:17,18)

Precious and durable, shiny and beautiful – soul gold bought from the Merchant of Revelation.