How important it is for Christians to adopt a biblical perspective! The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God, and when we consider and heed God's Word we walk in His wisdom. If someone offered you the choice of bars of gold bullion or a painful trial, what would you choose? Speaking for myself, I would choose the gold because I know it has resale value. Every ounce of that gold today is valued more than $1,600 Australian dollars. Gold is considered a wise investment because it has historically held its value, has high demand, and is more stable than currencies. People hold to the belief money and wealth helps problems disappear, so why choose trials?
Consider the surprising things Peter wrote to suffering Christians scattered by persecution in 1 Peter 1:6-9: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 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, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls." In so many words Peter said genuine faith in Jesus Christ is worth all the gold in the world. Gold can be stolen, sold, traded, or lost. A man might have millions in gold in the bank, but after he dies it is of no use to him. Genuine faith in Jesus is revealed through the trying times, by endurance through painful trials accompanied with praise of God and joy.
It is for this reason the trying of our faith by trials is of great value. It was the trial of faith on the open sea which caused the missionary John Wesley to realise he was without peace, afraid to die, and therefore not a genuine believer! What if Wesley had only experienced smooth sailing and comfort in his adult life, having claimed to follow Jesus as a lad? He might have been happy all the way to hell and his soul would have been lost forever. We can therefore rejoice in trials, for whilst they are temporary they supply eternal benefits for us. We will be rewarded for our endurance. Faith in Jesus Christ will result in the salvation of our eternal souls, and this is precious in God's sight. People sell their souls in exchange for things of this world that will perish like fame, money, and power. Like Esau who gave up his birthright, many are deceived to think their "soul" is worthless when it is the only thing man possesses which will endure forever.
How good it is to be tried, to be refined by a loving God - painful though it may be. Various trials will grieve us, but it is only for a little while and we have the promise of God's consolation. Better to face the fiery trial now and repent of our faithlessness before God than face the eternal fires of hell in self-righteous pride. You who claim to know Christ, are you filled with anxious thoughts, worries, fears, and cares of this world? Could it be your claim to faith in Christ is in word only and is not a reality in your life? It is God's grace to deliver a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so their soul can be saved in the Day of our LORD Jesus. If in the trial you can rejoice with inexpressible joy in the LORD, that is evidence indeed of His divine power within you. Trials have great value. Better than gold is the assurance of scripture to those who trust and obey!
Consider the surprising things Peter wrote to suffering Christians scattered by persecution in 1 Peter 1:6-9: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 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, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls." In so many words Peter said genuine faith in Jesus Christ is worth all the gold in the world. Gold can be stolen, sold, traded, or lost. A man might have millions in gold in the bank, but after he dies it is of no use to him. Genuine faith in Jesus is revealed through the trying times, by endurance through painful trials accompanied with praise of God and joy.
It is for this reason the trying of our faith by trials is of great value. It was the trial of faith on the open sea which caused the missionary John Wesley to realise he was without peace, afraid to die, and therefore not a genuine believer! What if Wesley had only experienced smooth sailing and comfort in his adult life, having claimed to follow Jesus as a lad? He might have been happy all the way to hell and his soul would have been lost forever. We can therefore rejoice in trials, for whilst they are temporary they supply eternal benefits for us. We will be rewarded for our endurance. Faith in Jesus Christ will result in the salvation of our eternal souls, and this is precious in God's sight. People sell their souls in exchange for things of this world that will perish like fame, money, and power. Like Esau who gave up his birthright, many are deceived to think their "soul" is worthless when it is the only thing man possesses which will endure forever.
How good it is to be tried, to be refined by a loving God - painful though it may be. Various trials will grieve us, but it is only for a little while and we have the promise of God's consolation. Better to face the fiery trial now and repent of our faithlessness before God than face the eternal fires of hell in self-righteous pride. You who claim to know Christ, are you filled with anxious thoughts, worries, fears, and cares of this world? Could it be your claim to faith in Christ is in word only and is not a reality in your life? It is God's grace to deliver a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so their soul can be saved in the Day of our LORD Jesus. If in the trial you can rejoice with inexpressible joy in the LORD, that is evidence indeed of His divine power within you. Trials have great value. Better than gold is the assurance of scripture to those who trust and obey!
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