“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1Peter 1:6-7)
Verse 6 seems to begin in a middle of a thought. It’s referring to the prior Scriptures. They rejoiced greatly at God’s abundant mercy that by the resurrection of Jesus they were born again, received a divine inheritance and are kept saved until the reveal of the glory of Jesus is revealed in the end. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1Peter 1:3-5) But Peter recognized that at that moment they were going through persecution which brought them many temptations. And I wondered what kind of temptations they may have gone through. When we are under duress, it seems that we are our lowest tolerance for patience, kindness and love. So we can imagine that not only were they suffering from the external pressure of persecution, but the internal turmoil of the situation of which we may not even understand.
Peter’s consolation is to remind them that this is a trial of their faith, their faith in Jesus, their faith in a merciful Father, their faith in the protection of the Lord, their faith in their salvation and their faith in their inheritance in heaven. Trials put our faith to the test. Do we really believe what we say we believe? It’s in the time of tribulation, affliction and troubles that our words and actions betray our true beliefs. What are our words? Are they words of faith and blessing or are they words of doubt and unbelief? How about our actions? Do we rejoice like Paul that God will be glorified in all? Or do we give up all hope and faith and moan and complain speaking words that curse us in our situation?
This is misconstrued sometimes. To curse doesn’t just mean foul words when we’re angry, but any word that is contrary to God’s Word. For instance, in a trial or difficulty it’s speaking our fears of the worse possible outcome. Instead of speaking God’s provision and help, we speak the curses of the devil on ourselves by bemoaning the worse possible situation and conclusion of the matter. Where is our hope? ...out the window. If we can remember to speak our hope, not some false imagined result, but hope in what God has said, we are speaking words that have power and able to change things. We bring the manifestation of Jesus on the scene. And everything will change. And although we know this, it’s a hard thing to do in the middle of a crisis.
Peter writes that this trial of our faith is precious meaning valuable, costly and irreplaceable. That’s because our faith is divine and godly. It’s eternal and can’t be bought, gained or bargained for. It’s based on Truth and God’s own Word which never fails. It more valuable than all the gold and treasure in the world which will perish with the world. Our faith is eternal and forever. And no matter what will come against our faith to destroy it. It cannot and will not fail nor expire. In the end, it will bring glory, honor and praise to our Lord Jesus when He comes in glory to rule and reign on the earth.
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