You’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior. Maybe that was recently, or maybe that was a while ago. However, now you are going through some very difficult trials and difficulties. Perhaps you are even being persecuted for your faith, and maybe you are wondering why all of this is happening. Weren’t things supposed to get better once you accepted Jesus? That is a common misconception, that once one becomes a Christian your life will be a picnic, a stroll through a garden. The Apostle Peter addresses this confusion, along with the eternal security of our salvation and our heavenly inheritance. Let’s take a look at this Scripture that is brimming with strong Christian hope.
The Epistle of I Peter was written by the Apostle to believers who were scattered from their homes due to persecution. They were suffering for their faith in a world that was very hostile to those who followed Jesus. He wanted to remind these suffering Christians that their trials were only temporary, and that they were precious in God’s sight. He wanted to encourage them, and us today, to look to God during trying times, and to anchor our hope in the certainty of His promises, not in circumstances.
Peter reminded these believers that as Christians we have a living hope (vs. 3). This hope isn’t wishful thinking, such as hoping it doesn’t rain on my day off work. This is the confident, anchored expectation of our future salvation, the resurrection, and eternal life with God, based on the resurrection of Jesus. It is knowing that God’s promises are sure. Our hope is as alive as the risen Christ Himself, and His gift of eternal life will never come to ruin.
As believers who have placed their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, we have an inheritance. Some people have had an inheritance, but then something happens and it was lost, or destroyed, or in some other way ruined. That would be so disappointing, even devastating to those people. Our Scripture here describes the inheritance we have through Jesus as incorruptible (vs. 4). It cannot decay. It is also undefiled, as it can’t be ruined, and it will not fade away or be diminished. It is reserved in heaven for us, basically kept under divine guard. There it is safer in heaven than anything we could ever secure on earth.
But what if somehow I lose my salvation? That has worried some Christians. God’s Word tells us here that believers are “kept by the power of God” vs. 5. This is one text that shows the Biblical truth of eternal security. Our faith is the means of our salvation, but God’s power is the guarantee. He guards us like a military garrison, and He promises that nothing can take us out of His hand (John 10:28-29).
Next Peter addresses the trials and persecutions that these believers are going through (vs. 6-7). Despite what they are experiencing, he encourages them to rejoice in the Lord. This is not a denial of their pain, but to have joy in spite of it because of what we know is coming in our future. The purpose of these trials is to refine us and make us more like Jesus. At times God allows us to face impossible circumstances in order to test and try our faith. It is the adversity that motivates us to seek Him, and when we do, He faithfully strengthens and refreshes us.
Our trials are not random. They will test the genuineness of our faith. Peter tells us that our faith is more precious than gold, which is refined by fire. And just like that gold, our faith is refined by trials. When purifying gold the refiner’s fire only destroys the impurities that mar the gold’s beauty and detract from its basic characteristics, making it worth much less. A piece of gold that has not been refined and purified is worth much less. Though it is still gold, it would only be made into much lesser, inexpensive jewelry. However, the pure, refined gold is valuable, and made into beautiful pieces. Which type of Christian do you want to be? God values your faith more than the world values gold, so allow Him to refine you.
Peter continues by commending those Christians who have a strong faith, yet have never seen Jesus (vs. 8). Peter and the other apostles saw Jesus and were taught by Him for over three years. These believers who are going through trials and persecution for His Name have never seen Him in the flesh, yet they love Him, believe in and follow Him. The same is true of every Christian today, and the end outcome of our faith is the salvation of our soul, which refers to our glorification in heaven (vs. 9).
Jesus made it clear that troubles are inevitable for God’s children. His own life was no exception. As His followers, we can expect difficulty. God allows struggles for our benefit to purify and grow us for greater service, to test our endurance and devotion to Jesus, and to strengthen our trust. We have an anchored hope in Jesus’ resurrection and our inheritance in heaven. It is certain and eternally secure! Remember, we are not home yet, but we’re on our way, and the finish line is guaranteed!
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