"...you, who are protected by the power of God
through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while,
if necessary,
you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith,
being more precious than gold which is perishable,
even though tested by fire,
may be found to result in praise and glory and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ..."
1 Peter 1:5-7
Last year was quite a year. I read last week an article written by a Fox News journalist which said that he wouldn't get one story finished but that he was called off to cover another event. In the many years he'd been reporting, he'd never had a year like it. The ongoing upheaval in the Middle East with the fall of several dictators. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The capture and death of Osama bin Laden. The devastating and very deadly tornados here in the United States. The Occupy protestors. The list goes on. It really was quite a year last year, and my guess is this year won't be any different.
For most of us, what is listed above probably didn't have a huge impact on our lives. I do remember watching in disbelief as the tsunami engulfed everything in it's path, crushing houses and tossing cars and airplanes around like they were toys. But it didn't really touch my life here, in Washington. I still have my home. I still have my car. (There is a story with our mini-van, it involves a deer, but that is for another time.) There was concern for a little while about the damage done to some of the nuclear reactors and what affects it might have, but it proved to be a non-issue here in the states. As far as what is going on in the Middle East, I have to admit, it has been exciting to watch because it is around that region of the world from where we will see Antichrist arise, the world ruler who will demand worship of all nations by instituting his mark and requiring it for buying and selling. (Revelation 13:15-17) But the upheaval there hasn't really affected me here, yet. There were some things however that happened in my life this year, that did.
For most of us, what is listed above probably didn't have a huge impact on our lives. I do remember watching in disbelief as the tsunami engulfed everything in it's path, crushing houses and tossing cars and airplanes around like they were toys. But it didn't really touch my life here, in Washington. I still have my home. I still have my car. (There is a story with our mini-van, it involves a deer, but that is for another time.) There was concern for a little while about the damage done to some of the nuclear reactors and what affects it might have, but it proved to be a non-issue here in the states. As far as what is going on in the Middle East, I have to admit, it has been exciting to watch because it is around that region of the world from where we will see Antichrist arise, the world ruler who will demand worship of all nations by instituting his mark and requiring it for buying and selling. (Revelation 13:15-17) But the upheaval there hasn't really affected me here, yet. There were some things however that happened in my life this year, that did.
All of us can probably recall at least one trial we've gone through this past year, or maybe several. You might even be in one at the moment. In the passage above, Peter wants us to know several principles about trouble.
1 - Trouble doesn't last - it is for a little while. Paul considered the sufferings we undergo in our lifetime are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us - Romans 8:18.
2 - Trouble is necessary. (see 5, below)
3 - Trouble brings distress. Trials cause heartache and emotional agony. They can also bring physical pain.
4 - Trouble comes in different forms - various trials. Sometimes trials are caused by the sins of others. Trials come with unexpected news. Some trials are over very quickly while some call for endurance for months, or maybe even years at a time. Trials vary in the intensity of the distress. Some peak and then fall, and then peak again. We undergo all different kinds of trials.
5 - Trouble serves a purpose - the proof of your faith...though tested by fire... Trials test the reality of our faith. Trials forge faith of steel. The distress drives the true child of God to the Word and to prayer. Our dependence on God becomes greater. Our view of God is enlarged. Our obedience comes quicker. When we come through a trial still trusting the Lord, we are assured our faith is genuine and the image of Jesus shines brighter in us.
6 - The final outcome of all our trials, the testing of our faith, is so that Jesus may be praised - your faith...even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ...
We know from Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus is the author and perfecter of faith. We know from Ephesians 2:8 that our faith is a gift from Him. At the time of salvation, God grants us faith. Peter tells us we are protected by the power of God, through the faith He gives us. God energizes faith and continues to preserve it. The greatest trial that the church is going to face is when Antichrist is revealed and demands worship of the world. Genuine believers will choose death before giving their worship to him. At the end of the age, when Jesus returns and is revealed, praise will resound for Him, for His keeping us. Salvation is all His work, including our gift of faith. He loses none of His sheep that the Father has given Him. He lovingly and fiercely guards and protects each and every single one, through the fire. Gold is valuable, but perishable. Gold is subject to decay. Genuine faith is not perishable. Genuine faith is not subject to decay making genuine faith much more valuable than gold. Genuine faith never fails completely under the severest of distresses because the power of Jesus is behind it. Jesus - our Precious Savior, the Eternal, Omnipotent God of the universe - of infinite, measureless value and having infinite, measureless power.
I have loved ones in my life who are being distressed with trials. Jesus is more pronounced in their lives, shining bright, because of them. Praise be to Him.
1 - Trouble doesn't last - it is for a little while. Paul considered the sufferings we undergo in our lifetime are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us - Romans 8:18.
2 - Trouble is necessary. (see 5, below)
3 - Trouble brings distress. Trials cause heartache and emotional agony. They can also bring physical pain.
4 - Trouble comes in different forms - various trials. Sometimes trials are caused by the sins of others. Trials come with unexpected news. Some trials are over very quickly while some call for endurance for months, or maybe even years at a time. Trials vary in the intensity of the distress. Some peak and then fall, and then peak again. We undergo all different kinds of trials.
5 - Trouble serves a purpose - the proof of your faith...though tested by fire... Trials test the reality of our faith. Trials forge faith of steel. The distress drives the true child of God to the Word and to prayer. Our dependence on God becomes greater. Our view of God is enlarged. Our obedience comes quicker. When we come through a trial still trusting the Lord, we are assured our faith is genuine and the image of Jesus shines brighter in us.
6 - The final outcome of all our trials, the testing of our faith, is so that Jesus may be praised - your faith...even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ...
We know from Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus is the author and perfecter of faith. We know from Ephesians 2:8 that our faith is a gift from Him. At the time of salvation, God grants us faith. Peter tells us we are protected by the power of God, through the faith He gives us. God energizes faith and continues to preserve it. The greatest trial that the church is going to face is when Antichrist is revealed and demands worship of the world. Genuine believers will choose death before giving their worship to him. At the end of the age, when Jesus returns and is revealed, praise will resound for Him, for His keeping us. Salvation is all His work, including our gift of faith. He loses none of His sheep that the Father has given Him. He lovingly and fiercely guards and protects each and every single one, through the fire. Gold is valuable, but perishable. Gold is subject to decay. Genuine faith is not perishable. Genuine faith is not subject to decay making genuine faith much more valuable than gold. Genuine faith never fails completely under the severest of distresses because the power of Jesus is behind it. Jesus - our Precious Savior, the Eternal, Omnipotent God of the universe - of infinite, measureless value and having infinite, measureless power.
I have loved ones in my life who are being distressed with trials. Jesus is more pronounced in their lives, shining bright, because of them. Praise be to Him.
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