Peter, in his letter to believers, gives a clear indication of God's great mercy.
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has given His beloved a new birth into a living hope with a priceless inheritance that's pure, undefiled, beyond perishing and reserved in heaven (see 1 Peter 1:1-5).
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials 1 Peter 1:6 NKJV
We need not hold tightly more than when trials come. Peter's intent is to encourage us with the hope of heaven. The people he was addressing at the time were suffering in ways we can hardly comprehend and he knew that without the security of knowing Jesus fully, the difficulty of the trials they faced would sink them. It's the same today, there is a living hope that is needed to endure the trials we will inevitably face. If we put our hope in a false Jesus, when floodwaters rise and the winds beat against the house, the house will collapse.
God does not allow difficulties and trials for no reason. There will be a benefit, but we must shift our eyes from the temporary to the eternal with full surrender. It's been said that suffering is simply a fact of life—I suppose there is some truth to that, however, suffering with the notion that it's just part of life is suffering in vain isn't it? I mean what's the point of it all? I believe God has something entirely different in mind; opening the eyes of the blind and growing the faith of the one who clearly sees Him.
These [trials] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:7 NIV
I think of John the Baptist. He was in prison, and eventually beheaded for speaking the truth (Matt 14). To say that what John walked through was difficult is an understatement. Although he was the forerunner of Jesus, he still struggled with his circumstances. He went as far as to send his disciples to Jesus to ask Him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matt 11:3). This was a faith building trial for sure. God knows how much dross must come off the gold that eventually perishes in order to purify it, how much more our faith which never perishes?
Even so, do we expect to know only part of Jesus and still have the faith needed to sustain us in a chaotic fallen world? Impossible. John knew that people needed all of Jesus and he didn't let the fear stop him from telling the truth. He seemed to know that Jesus would say, and He did, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first"(John 15:18).
After watching a world in sheer chaos, I really am astonished at how we continue with the notion of silence, especially when we have the truth. Somehow we've been convinced that this is what love looks like. How can it? How can we turn a blind eye to something that we know is hurting someone down to the core of their very soul and call that love?
Furthermore, how can we continue to support establishments that openly fund evil, saying, "It is what it is; where else would we go?" I'm aware we've given up most of the public square but isn't that the very problem? Shouldn't we, at the very least, make an effort to bring our business elsewhere? If we don't have the guts to stand against such things, do we actually believe what we say we believe? Understand, I'm challenging myself here too!
John did not compromise and neither did Jesus. Jesus of course loved people, but He never separated truth and love. When the woman was caught in adultery, Jesus did not sit back and in a loving way wait for her to realize her sin. No, He loved her by telling her the truth—because telling her the truth was loving her (John 8). By today's standards, we'd be called a Pharisee, accused of having a critical spirit, or worse, full of hate if we did the same. I wonder if we think we know how to love better than Jesus loved.
Now, on the other hand, am I suggesting that we go around pounding the truth into people? No, of course not, Jesus didn't do that either. However our goal should never be that people simply know where we stand. Our goal is to align our hearts with His; and His heart was always that the blind see; not in part, but in full. So what does that look like practically? Well, love people, and continually pray for Him to work through you. God chose us; what an amazing privilege it is to be used by Him. And by the way, Jesus didn't look like everyone else and neither should we.
Jesus sent a message back to John that said, "And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Matthew 11:6 ESV
If we are offended, how much more them?
When we understand the fullness of Christ, trials are not in vain. Like gold in the fire, the fire loosens the dross, the dross then rises to the top. The more removed, the higher the value. Our natural tendency is to react to the fire, not the refining. Of course it is! However, after the fire does it's work, the treasure can be found—
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV
Shouldn't everyone have the opportunity to know Jesus? I pray we never again see suffering as wasteful; nor be deceived about truth. Thankfully, Jesus is fully truth and fully love; therefore, we can't have or preach one without the other.
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 AMP
Truth, in love, brings healing in every way. May we be the bearers of the good news that Jesus died and resurrected, giving everyone a chance to experience a new birth into a living hope that sustains; even and especially in the most difficult of circumstances.
Do you know this living hope? If you do, you are inevitably in, just coming out of, or about to go into the refiner's fire. Are you able see the benefit, or do you find yourself suffering in vain?
If you have read my blog, you know that I've been suffering with insomnia and other health issues for over a decade. The dross that God has removed has filled buckets, with many more to go I'm sure. I know how hard it is, but I think maybe, just maybe, I can see a couple of very small shiny spots. Only God knows. I don't like the process very much at all, but I am choosing to trust Him through it.
How about you? Share if you dare, your story just may bless someone else.
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