1 Peter 1.7 These
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. – St. Peter
I have had a rough week: things planned didn’t come
through, promises made weren’t kept. And here it is, Friday, and I read the
above. And I think: Oh, maybe that’s the
reason. I got a “here’s why” moment. As I look back on what I’ve done this
week I feel like God has said this morning, through Peter’s writing, here’s
why:
Paul, [this week has]
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. And I said, “Oh!” (Or, Aha! or
something like that…)
Our lives here on earth are not about here on earth but
about there in Heaven which will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed. The Grand Experiment is not just about life on earth now,
but really about endless life with Him, then. We aren’t living in tomorrow, but we’re living for tomorrow. That is why we live in faith.
Faith is the belief that all of this means something and
will result in praise, glory, and honor someday. That praise, glory, and honor
are worth more – in the future – than any plans made that didn’t come through
now, or promises made that weren’t kept. Our faith is tremendously valuable
because it secures for us praise, glory, and honor; that even though we may not
be able to comprehend in our moments now, we’ll glory in it on that Day in the
future.
Well, why live
for the future Paul? Because it gives us hope, and really, that’s just the way
it is. God has promised to those who belief, a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29).
God is working with us and in us to get it: that as good as we think life is or
can be on earth, it is immeasurably better with Him forever. And what brings
this all together is a thing called faith, which is: of
greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire.
The purest gold, the greatest riches we know of, even
though valued and highly sought after, all perish because they cannot deliver
eternity. Earthly riches only go so far, and are impotent to deliver lasting
satisfaction; like sugar: sweet but momentary.
Ah, but faith – faith is that ability to say: Lord, I
know it’s been a crappy week but You are in control of my days and my weeks. I
trust You that You know what I need and when I need it, so I am going to praise
You for bringing me through the week and for giving me the strength and the
health to do what I do knowing that You have promised to meet my needs and I
can depend on that. In faith, I live because my faith is immeasurably valuable
and precious. And faith is what pleases You.
Father, Thank You
for this week but thank You more for this lesson: my faith - of greater worth
than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—results in praise, glory
and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Praise, glory, and honor from You to me
for believing in You. Amen
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