From Glory to Glory

“...so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1Peter 1:7)

This verse is a part of a seven-verse long sentence. It is a continuation of the previous verse which is explaining why the Lord in His mercy has given us birth and given us the hope of being resurrected with Christ. (1Peter 1:3)

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” (1Peter 1:6) Peter is writing his letter to the “strangers” who were most probably believers of diverse backgrounds of Jews and Gentiles displaced from their homes and were residing in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia because of persecution. We rejoice in the Gospel and the Truths of being glorified with Jesus when He is revealed to the world. But Peter reassures the persecuted in Asia Minor that it doesn’t compare with that glory and that it’s temporary. The implication he is making is that the reward of  faithfulness in the face of persecution is eternal.

Going off topic a little, most Christians are not too concerned about the persecution happening today in other parts of the world. Their own personal challenges keeps them occupied in the now instead of the eternal and in their immediate needs instead of the universal church. We are instructed to pray for our fellow believers. “...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Ephesians 6:18) We may be having our own trials and struggles, but our persecuted brethren are suffering even unto death for their faith and devotion to Jesus. If we don’t care about our suffering brethren because we don’t know who they are and their sufferings don’t touch us as it would if we knew them, then we need to know who they are. There are excellent ministries that help spread the word of who they are and what they are suffering.  Scripture tells us that when a brother of sister is “glorified” which means is lifted up because they’ve done something notable, we, meaning the whole Christian community is lifted up. We feel pride that someone who loves the Lord like we do was recognized. We should also be affected by the persecution our brethren suffer because we could’ve been in their shoes. But by the grace of God, we are born in a place where we are not tortured, driven from our homes and families nor killed for our faith. “For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need; that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.” (1Corinthians 12:24-26)

Peter didn’t know specifically who these believers in Asia Minor were, but knew that they were believers and were suffering persecution. And he writes to them to encourage them and give them understanding that the trial they were suffering was proving their faith and was more precious than gold which will perish. They were willing to suffer for Jesus rather than denying Him. That is what the persecuted do in the face of threats, hardships, beatings, torture, separation from loved ones, home and even country. They will not deny Jesus. I would hope to have that conviction if I were persecuted.

Our faith is tested every day. Every day we have choices to make. We may not be suffering persecution but the choices we make test our faith in Jesus. Is the sacrifice of Jesus worthy to choose Bible reading over sleep, TV or social media? Is the shed blood of Jesus more precious than all the gold of the world to choose prayer over resting or napping? These are real choices we’re presented with. And in free countries, we’re so lax and take the sacrifice of Jesus for granted. If someone offered us 1 carat of gold to read our Bibles or pray, we’d jump at it. But the sacrifice and blood of the Lamb are worth much more than all the gold in the world. The gold will perish with the world. But eternity is forever. And prayer and Bible reading are for eternity.

In free countries, we may have escaped severe persecution like our brethren experience in hostile and restricted countries, but our faith still needs to be tested. It’s tested when affliction comes against us. To remind ourselves, God doesn’t send affliction but uses it to refine us and make us more in His image. “But we all, with our face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord Spirit.” (2Corinthians 3:18) Each victory is a step of glory to being changed into the image of Christ. But, it’s the devil who tests us in the affliction. Even though we don’t hear him or know his thoughts, it’s like he’s saying, “Do you really believe? Prove it!” It’s not from God, but the Lord allows it for His purposes. How do you react in the face of hardships, struggles, difficulties, pain, tribulation and other kinds of affliction? Do you cry, moan, get angry, take it out on others instead of knowing the Word because you have read it or ask the Holy Spirit for a Word to use like Jesus did? “It is written...” The fact that the Word of God is written makes it a done deal for us. It’s in a legal document for this world and the spiritual world we don’t see.

At the end of this Scripture, Peter writes that our faith is tested so that it “ might be found to the praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The victory over all those hardships, struggles, difficulties, pain, tribulation and other kinds of affliction will be celebrated when Jesus is revealed to the world as King of kings and Lord of lords on His return to earth.

Concluding, our faith will be tested, over and over. In hostile and restricted countries with persecution. In free countries with afflictions and even everyday choices. The choices we make prove our faith. Every trial, hardship, struggle, difficulty, pain, tribulation and other kinds of affliction is a test of our faith. Do we react like the world or with the Word?

Let us pray:

Father God, I worship You. You alone are holy and worthy of all praise and honor. Nothing we go through, things from the devil or consequences of our bad choices go to waste and are worth nothing in Your sight. You use it for Your glory. I ask You Lord to help me in the face of trials, hardships, struggles, difficulties, pain, tribulation and other kinds of affliction. Help me to remember Your Word. Help me to persevere and keep my faith. Help me to remember that it’s temporary and that it will pass. And help me to remember that my faith is worth more than all the gold in the world and will be revealed and celebrated in the glory of Jesus. I thank You my Lord and my God that You strengthen me in spirit and soul to persevere and to stand strong in my faith and in my devotion to my Savior. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.