REFINED BY FIRE. 1st Peter 1:7 (third superlative: imperishable faith) Trials are part of the refining process. Trials require heat, and they teach us patience [Rom.5:3-4; Jas.1:2-3]. Trials help shape us into the kind of people God desires. “Tried with fire” describes the process by which gold is refined to remove impurities. Our joy here surpasses any trials we may face. The result of trials is commendation—praise and God’s approval [Mat.25:1; 1Cor.4:5]; honor before the world [Jn. 12:26]; and glory—future life and likeness to the Lord [Phil. 3:21]. Trials are necessary [v.6]; they serve a specific purpose [v.7]; and they lead to commendation [v.7].
All believers will face trials as they shine as lights in the darkness of the world. Trials are part of the refining process. The Lord allows trials to reveal our limitations and impurities, just as gold is heated so that impurities rise to the surface and can be removed. Persecutions, difficulties, and the trials we are called to endure refine us and strengthen our faith. This, in turn, makes us useful to God in His service.
True faith remains intact after every layer of superficial religion is stripped away through trials, opposition, and life's difficulties. Not only is faith valuable, but its testing holds great significance. The true nature and purity of faith are revealed through the fiery trials we are called to endure.
The reality of our salvation is shown through the trial of our faith, but a Christian's faithfulness brings praise, honor, and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. There are several ways we demonstrate the value of trials. We trust that God knows what is happening and has allowed it to occur. He provides the necessary strength and love as He walks with us through the trials. We also learn the importance of perseverance when there is no way to escape the fiery trials of physical and emotional pain, grief, ongoing sorrow, despair, and potential bitterness. When we realize the Lord is with us as we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, spiritual courage becomes real, and we are no longer afraid.
When the dross is removed, and praise, honor, and glory are given to our Lord, that is good fruit. This will become clear at the judgment seat of Christ when we receive "for the things done in the body, whether it be good or bad." At that time, we will see everything for what it truly was in the eyes of our Lord, and we will rejoice in being allowed to share in His glory. We have not seen Him with our physical eyes, but by faith, we love Him and believe in Him without doubt. The answers to every "why" we might have may not be provided, but faith in Him assures us of justice at the end of this time of trial and testing. In the future, we will be glad that He allowed us to pass through this. Unspeakable joy, though it leaves us speechless, will open our faith-eyes to the glory that exceeds our highest imagination.
We definitely rejoice in salvation. The future, by God’s grace, is secure. Even though many temptations are present, we persevere through them by God's strength. Instead of trials decreasing, persecution grows more intense. From all sides, the world pressures us, and each trial seems to last longer. It mirrors Peter’s time: the worship of God is often ridiculed. People mock us when we bow to God’s Word and become angry when we refuse to conform to most people’s ways. For many, religion is like a business; they judge success by its size, not realizing that God chooses what is right, not what looks right in men’s eyes.
The process requires a lot of heat to ensure complete purification. Much of the dross remains unseen. It must be heated until a sheen appears, reflecting the face looking into the gold; the reflection should resemble God’s. Who would think that gold could perish? It’s an investment many cherish, believing it will last as long as they do, offering security because the more they have, the better. They think it will guarantee abundance and safety, forgetting that God can quickly drain our pantry.
However, the trials in life that we try to avoid hold a value greater than pure gold because these trials shape us to become more like Christ. He knows what is important from beginning to end and allows testing times to come over me so that, through the mirror of the gold, my Lord will be seen. This is only the beginning of the matter, for there is a time approaching—perhaps sooner rather than later—when the Lord Jesus appears in His power and glory with all His saints, each with a different story of trials in life that God faithfully brought them through. Each one reflects honor to Him who is “The Faithful and True".
The trial and proof of faith are not about demonstrating the truthfulness of the message we believed when we were saved, but about the reality of our response. Living out our faith in everyday life is one thing; living it out under difficult circumstances is another. One shows how to live as God intended, and the other reveals that God is with us and enables us to go beyond normal living and be victorious in the battle of righteousness against evil.
People of faith find victory through trials that earn God’s approval, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and they give all praise to Him. “Glory” points to the future when we enter into His glory and are transformed into His likeness. “Honor” is the reward for tested faith that will lead to a heavenly commendation, visible to all and bringing honor to the Savior.
Serving God often leads to resentment. Most people will only serve for a price, but even during temptations, there can be contentment. When we seek God’s “Well done,” not some prize, our love for the Lord is genuine. It is part of the new nature God gives us. Therefore, the testing times we face are something we must endure. After all, any testing we experience is minor compared to what the Lord Jesus endured. Living morally reveals the sin that is so common and accepted today. The temptations and evils within leave people powerless to obey God’s law. Instead of accepting that God’s people will remain faithful, the world, flesh, and the devil work together to try to cause believers, like them, to fall into sin.
But the Lord has proved this through His life; when we follow His steps, we can overcome the temptations and struggles that come our way, for the Spirit is within us to support us. And the Father clearly hears each heart's cry, sending peace and answers to the heart. The power of God is so close that we can defeat temptation at its beginning. Our trials make us useful to God.