First Epistle of Peter
THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 1:6 (KJV)
"greatly rejoice"
The word "rejoice" here refers back to "time" in verse 5, rather than to "salvation" as one might suppose. Certainly we do rejoice in our salvation, but we will greatly rejoice in that day when our salvation is complete. "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures forever more" (Ps. 16:11). We can greatly rejoice now, if with an eye of faith and obedience we can contemplate that time when we will see Him, be with Him and be like Him forever.
The Christians to whom Peter was writing were suffering great trials such as perhaps we know nothing about. We know a little something of sickness, disappointments, bereavement and perhaps a bit of ridicule. These Christians had all these things, but above this they had bitter persecution. It really meant something to become a Christian in those days. For the Jew, it meant being ostracized from home; cut off from father, mother, brother, sister, children as well as property. It might mean imprisonment, torture or even death. To be a convert from the non-Jew meant leaving their idol gods, which was equally serious. To repeat, it really meant something to become a Christian in those days.
Peter wrote this epistle to encourage those under such conditions. Everything written thus far has been for that purpose. He has told them of their salvation and their wonderful inheritance so that they might be happy in spite of persecution and suffering. And, we know that many of those early saints "took joyfully the spoiling of their goods" (Heb. 10:34). Many went to the arena or the stake with a hymn on their lips. Or, like the apostle Paul and Silas with bleeding backs (down in the stinking Roman prison, their feet stuck fast in the stocks), at midnight, praying and singing praises to God (Acts 16). No wonder God shook that prison with a mighty earthquake. No wonder a hardened jailor was converted that night.
How do we take our lesser trials and sufferings? Do we grumble, grouch, complain; or do we take them with a smile? Is our vision short or long? Cannot we look beyond today? Can we look to that day when we will be with Him in our inheritance? If we can, we will carry our burdens without complaint. We will carry our cross with a smile.
Tears were streaming down the face of a brother at the funeral of his young sister. He turned to a friend and said, "Only a Christian can be happy with tears streaming down his face." How true. Does the world see this in us?
"for a season"
The expression "for a season" means for a little time, and certainly, compared with eternity, the little time of suffering is short. To sit in jail for years like Paul did, would seem long. To lie on a sick bed for years would seem long, too.
The story is told of a young man who had sleeping sickness. Through the efforts of friends, he been reached with the gospel, so, in spite of his sickness he was bright and happy. But one day he was obviously down. A friend read to him from 2 Corinthians 4:17: "For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." The friend tried to explain that his affliction was light and brief; that it worked for him. This he could not see. His affliction light? How could it be heavier? And brief? After being so afflicted for 14 years? And how could this work for him anyway? The friend tried to show how it is light compared to Christ's sufferings for us, and light compared to the sufferings of those in hell forever. And in short; what was fourteen years compared to eternity? And then the friend asked this question: "If we both were to die today, who would appreciate heaven the most?" "Why I would," he said. "Right, that's one way your affliction works for you."
"if need be"
Truly our trials are but for a little time, and then we have "if need be." Our Lord never sends us a pain, nor a sickness, a trial, a trouble, nor even a teardrop that is not necessary. Everyone of us can look back to times when our hearts were broken or our bodies ached. We probably could not see the good of it then, but as we look back we can. Job could not see the need for all his troubles and suffering. He even cursed the day he was born. However, he learned many a lesson from his experience, and we read, "So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more then his beginning" (Job 42:12). Thank God for this wonderful book showing Job's terrible experiences.
A fellow had some form of inflammatory rheumatism and suffered excruciating pain, over quite a long period. He often said, "I can't see what all this is for." Sometime later, after he had recovered, he was asked if he could now see what it was good for. He said, "Oh yes, I have learned to know the Lord as I never could have otherwise."
So there is "a need be" for every trial. Some may need it for one reason and some for another. Some may need it for correction, some for instruction, some for testing, and same for experience so they can be a help to others in sorrow (See 2 Cor. 1:4-6).
"ye are in heaviness" (or depressed)
The original puts it in the past tense. "Ye were depressed or grieved" as though now it was past. The bright prospects of the inheritance were so far overshadowing the trials, that all gloom was forced to flee away. Have you ever been in the presence of someone who, although suffering much, was uncomplaining and happy; while others express tales of woe? You just met them and you know all their troubles. Some can speak of nothing else. They are shortsighted and miserable. Look up and on and be happy.
"through manifold temptations." (or various trials)
As we have seen, the early church had all our troubles and many more. We never know what may come our way next. The world may tempt, Satan may buffet, the Lord may chastise or test. A wise child goes to his Father with everything.
An old man was remembering his youth and said: "I remember as a young child, that whenever my father would spank me, I would get as close as I could to him. Then he could not get quite such a healthy swing. The same approach I would use with my mother." Whatever may come our way, it is wise to get as close as we can to our Father and it will not hurt half as much.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:7 (KJV)
In this verse we have the purpose of the trials and temptations, namely that faith may be tested. To God, faith in His creatures is very precious. Man fell in the garden by believing in Satan's lie, and so distrusting God. Now nothing pleases the Lord more to be believed and trusted and obeyed. That is why we read in our verse, that faith is more precious than gold.
To man, nothing is more precious than gold, but to God, few things are more precious than faith. Gold is a long-lasting metal, but someday it is sure to disintegrate and be lost. It does perish. Faith in God is something that lives and will never die.
"much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire"
Men test gold thoroughly. They put it over intense fire. This they do for two reasons; to test its genuineness and to remove the dross. Someone has discovered a new ore field. They take a sample of it to the laboratory. First of all, is it real gold? The fire will tell. Then after the test, how much gold is there left, how much of it was dross? Will it pay to mine it? The Lord tests our faith for the same reasons. Is our faith genuine? He puts us in the crucible of suffering, and turns on the heat. Is there any faith left when He gets through? Sometimes there is none.
There was a young man who made a real big thing of his faith and obedience to Christ, and talked a great deal about being born again. But, the depression got serious and he lost his job. For many months, he tramped the streets trying to find work. He became more bitter as time went on. He soon began to blame God for his predicament, and then he had given up his faith altogether. He could not stand the fire. There was no real gold there.
As the goldsmith heats the fire, the gold becomes molten and the dross comes to the top. He skims off the dross. This process he continues until he can see the image of his face in the molten metal. He then knows it is pure gold. So the Lord tries us too, skimming off the dross of sin, selfishness, etc., longing for the time when He can, in some measure, see the image of His Son in us. We were created in His image in the first place, but sin came in, and this image was spoiled. In a measure, this is restored in His saints in this life. It will be completely restored in the last day. We will be like Him.
The Lord has always tested man and he almost always has failed. Adam and Eve were tried in the Garden of Eden under highly favorable circumstances; they failed. The whole history of the Old Testament is one of human failure. No matter under what circumstances they were tried, they seemed to fail. Peter himself was an example of one whose faith was tried, but failed. How sad to hear him say, even with cursing and swearing, "I know not the man."
We have some cases in the Scriptures, of individuals whose faith was sorely tried, yet remained strong. Dear old Job, what calamities hit him. First, all his material things destroyed; then, all his children killed; then his body covered with boils. Yet, in all this Job sinned not. "Though He slay me, yet. will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). This must have sounded like music in the ears of God.
Daniel's faithfulness brought him down into the den of lions, but he trusted in his God, and he was delivered. The three young men in the furnace had their faith truly tested as by fire, but they came out as gold. Only their bonds burned off, and "one like unto the Son of Gad" was with them in the furnace. This story is a great commentary on our verse.
Christ was tested, too. Have you ever wondered why this was necessary? Why should He be tempted those forty days in the wilderness? Could He possibly have sinned? No, beloved, He could not possibly sin. Why then this onslaught by Satan? It, no doubt, was to show Satan and the world, that God had a man who could stand against Satan, and so gain the victory over sin, death and hell. If God thought it necessary to so have His own Son tested, think it not strange if He finds it necessary to test you and me, too.
"might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
This appearing of Jesus Christ speaks of the time of His revelation. The day is coming when He will be revealed in great power and glory. Then He will sit on the throne of His glory, and the saved will be revealed with Him.
"praise"
If we have withstood the tests and trials of life, we will receive praise from Him. If we have witnessed for Him and served Him in spite of much opposition and ridicule we will hear those blessed words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matt. 25:21). Notice, He praises the faithful servant, not necessarily the successful one. The servant who only had two talents and gained two other talents, was praised exactly as the one with five. So the great preacher may receive no more praise than the faithful personal worker, or the Bible School teacher, or the dear old song leader. How this should stir us on to faithful endeavor, whether our abilities are great or whether they are small. What a thrill it will be to hear his commendation in that day. It will be worth a life-time of sacrificial service.
"honor"
We will not only receive praise, but honor as well. How men love to be honored and praised in this life. How they love to be looked up to, and to be put in the place of honor. How the young ladies love to be chosen as the beauty queen of their city or state, and how the young men love to be the chairman of this or that club or society. The true, loyal Christian will miss these earthly honors, but his day is coming. In that day the Lord will crown him with glory and set him in a high place. The place one receives in that time depends on the extent of one's suffering and faithful service now. Again, this should stir us on to self-denial now, and to more consecrated service for Him.
"glory"
Glory is the last and highest award promised to those who stand the test. This is the highest form of honor and praise. In Romans 8:17 we read, "If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Just what this means is hard to say. Who can measure the glory that He will receive? We are to share His glory with Him. The church is the bride of Christ. As the queen shares the glory of the king, so we shall share the glory of Christ. He shall sit on the throne of His glory. We shall sit on the throne with Him. The glory of this world will quickly pass away. Many of our presidents are well nigh forgotten, but the glory we receive of the Lord shall be eternal. The more we are ready to suffer for Him now, the more we will be glorified then.
Sadly, today some of the Lord's people are putting too much emphasis on the things of time. They are spending too much time trying to gain wealth and honor now in this life. We know it is necessary to work in order to get along in this life, but it is not necessary to work all our waking hours. Some have as many as three jobs when they might be able to get along with two, perhaps one. If all Christians would give a share of their time, as well as their money for the work of the Lord, the work would prosper and glory would await us for it.
