This post is a continuation of last week’s titled, “Grieved by Various Trials.” I hope you will read it first if you haven’t already because I’m just going to pick up where it left off.
When trials, difficulties,
and tragedies come, the most frequently asked question is, “Why did this
happen?” Often we will not know that answer. There are countless possibilities
as to why any particular trial comes upon us. Trials and hardship come sooner
or later, we’re all pretty aware of that right now, right? Things are just
going along fine and all of a sudden life can be turned upside down.
Genuineness of Your Faith:
Let me start by quoting the
text of 1 Peter 1:3-8 which says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to
a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an
inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith
for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly
rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved
by various trials,” and verse 7 continues, “that the genuineness of your
faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested
by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus
Christ.”
The Holy Spirit’s point,
through Peter’s pen, is that trials come
so that the genuineness / realness of your faith may be found to praise, honor,
and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
So that your perseverance in the Faith and your and trust in Him, will
result in God honoring you when Christ returns; You know that in His sovereign
authority of all things, He always does the right thing. Remember, Peter just
told us about our future inheritance, encouraging us to keep an eternal focus. The
reward that comes during this life includes peace between us and God through
the Blood of Christ, unity with God through faith in Jesus Christ, the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and partaking in the Body of Christ which is the
global Church. It does not include peace in general since Jesus said, “if the
world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the
world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but
I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18 -19). The entire book of 1
Peter talks much about our suffering as followers of Christ in this life, which
is why we are studying it now. The biggest part of our inheritance is reserved
for us in Heaven. So too is the reward for real faith, faith that has been purified
by God’s fire. That reward is to be given glory, honor and praise by God.
That sounds a little odd
doesn’t it, that God would give us glory, honor and praise, but consider Romans
2:8-11 which says, “to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness comes indignation
and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the
Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who
works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no
partiality with God.” Also Romans 2:29 “but he is a Jew who is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose
praise is not from men but from God.” These verses in 1 Peter and Romans are
not talking about seeking self-glorification and honor, they speak of a glory
and honor given by God to those who faithfully endure while striving to do
God’s will in this life. Such glory, honor and praise will be given by God when
Jesus Christ returns. This is not our motivation for being faithful, our love
for Him is what motivates us, but they are a result.
The trials God sends are
opportunities to both build our faith so that we learn to trust Him more and to
demonstrate our trust in Him. Your kids don’t like iodine, but they learn to
trust that what you are doing is in their best interests. As the bumps and
scrapes turn to more difficult trials, they learn to trust you, and you delight
in that right? God delights in being
trusted.
As a Christian your life is
on parade whether you like it or not.
The world is watching you to see the realness of your faith. Job’s wife
told him to just curse God and die (Job 2:9). But he refused to do it saying,
“Shall we accept the good from God, and not trouble?” Think about this, what do
your words and actions say about God when trouble comes? Anxiety and fear
suggest you don’t trust the Almighty God who loves you, anger and resentment
suggest you are dissatisfied with God, and taking matters into your own hands
suggests you think you know better how things should be than God does.
Covid19 and all the related
circumstances may just be the beginning of troubles, there may be difficult
days ahead. However, in Christ we are more than conquerors who seek to know,
love and serve Jesus Christ, the King of Kings in this life, knowing we have an
incorruptible inheritance waiting in Heaven.
What are your words and
actions going to say about God when trouble comes to you? Some trouble comes
because we sin (that’s the topic of other posts). It’s also true that God has
designed certain trials for your life so that your faith in Him is strengthened
and can be demonstrated as a testimony to the world. God will reward your faithfulness and trust
in Him.
Conclusion:
At the
beginning of this post, I mentioned that one thing is true of all trials and
hardships. That one thing is that they all have purpose. In God’s sovereign
will, there is a reason we face various trials. We may not know what that
purpose is and that is why we need to trust Him. In many cases, learning to
trust Him IS the purpose. Is your faith been tested? Trust Him. He always does
the right thing.Next week we’ll continue with 1 Peter.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Mark
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