Going through the fire - proves your faith

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1 Pet 1: 6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1. TRIALS RESULT IN YOUR FAITH BEING PROVEN

Peter is referring here to the process of assaying metal – of evaluating, testing or proving its genuineness. Anybody can claim to have faith, but many people’s cheap faith crumbles under scrutiny, proving that it is not genuine faith.

In Matthew 13:20-21 Jesus mentions this type of faith: “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”

Fake faith was revealed when persecution arose. It’s like a fake Rolex – it looks real until you apply the slightest amount of scrutiny…if you rub a little too hard the gold comes off. If it gets in the water, it rusts. Many people are like that – as soon as their faith comes under the slightest scrutiny they fall away from the faith and they are proven to be fake Christians.

Trials result on your faith being proven, tested to show that it is genuine.

2. TRIALS RESULT IN YOUR FAITH BEING PURIFIED

We all know that gold does not come out of the earth in the form of dainty rings and spiffy cufflinks. Gold needs to be mined and crushed and smelted and purified and molded and polished. It becomes more pure, as it goes through the fire. The fire not only proves its genuineness, actually makes it purer as the dross is removed.

James 1:2-4 says that this true of our faith too. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Every little trial that comes our way – a stubbed toe, a car breaking down – is sent by God to slowly start building up and strengthening our faith.

Don’t waste those opportunities, as little as they are, because when the big test comes you will have been strengthened, and you can comfort others, and you can give glory to God.

3. TRIALS RESULT IN YOUR FAITH BEING PRAISED

It might surprise you to know that this passage teaches that not only does praise and glory and honor go to Jesus – but also to the faithful believer, on the last day. The New Testament is clear, part of the reward a Christian received at the Bēma Seat is praise from God.

I know what you are thinking – “I don’t want to get praise; I want God to get praised.” That is a great instinct. But you are not going to get praise from other believers or from the angels – there will be no choir in heaven extolling you. This is praise you are getting from God – you are not robbing him of praise – he is giving you praise! This is the reward we should crave more than any other, the blessing of commendation from our Master.

Jesus ends off the parable of the talents in Matthew 25: 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

This servant it not robbing the master of praise – he is getting praise from the master.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be - has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him because we shall see him as he is.

The honor we receive will be our rewards. Have a read “Saving the Little Drummer Boy” and “Running for the Crown of Glory” to see more of the inspiring doctrine of eternal rewards.

What’s so amazing about this is that God gives us the faith as a gift, he brings the trial, he gives us the perseverance to get through the trial, and then he commends us afterward. It’s God’s grace all the way.

Do you thank you Lord, for counting you worthy to suffer, to persevere by his grace, so that others can glorify him in this life and so that you will receive a commendation and a reward and share in his glory when Christ returns? Think of your Master’s joy the next time your mettle is tested in a trial by fire.

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