Faith test

Bible Reading – 1 Pet 1:7 – Test of the crucible of faith.

The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Many situations in our lives test our faith. God allows these tests to happen in our life as it produces a three fold fruit – Praise, Honour and Glory. It is difficult for us to understand the fruit when in the middle of the test. All that we can see is the unending pain and suffering that seems to envelop us. But the word of God tells us that we will be able to see the fruit at the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. When He appears, we also shall appear with Him in Glory. And to Honour and Praise. What a day it will be.

The trial is a very personal test. It is not plural in nature and you have to undertake it alone. The crucible of YOUR faith will be put through the trial of fire. Even in the case of Job we see that he had to endure the trial all alone. His three best friends came running when they heard about his suffering. However they turned out to be tormentors rather than be comforters. Each one of them judged him and said that it would be sin in Job’s life that was bringing about this pain and suffering. This was far from truth as God’s testimony about Job was that he was an upright man and that there was none like Job on the whole earth.

One’s wife is one’s only solace in the face of complete despair. When friends fail, a man turns to his wife for comfort. Job’s wife was no balm. She offered not comfort but instead had harsh words for Job. “Curse God and die” – Job endured even that.

Gold when put through fire becomes precious as it undergoes the process of purification. Our faith is already precious in the sight of God. Then why the trial of fire? Because it produces a far greater thing – Glory. May the Lord give us the heart of Job to be able to join and say “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God”. Amen!