Good morning,
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead - - - 1 Peter 1:6
When the founding fathers of the United States sat down to write the Declaration of Independence they decided that anyone who was a citizen of this new country had the right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
What they failed to take into account was that everyone who would be a citizen here or anyone who would travel here would bring their sin nature along with them. They wanted to make sure that their political system would make it possible for people to live life feeling positive about themselves, free from outside controllers and free to live life their own way. Alas, it wasn’t long until all of those three good words were turned upside down by people who were living for themselves and not the good of their country or their fellow human beings or the God who had given them life. We were led to expect, as our right, what only God can give to those who are his obedient children. It seems that the rest of the “Free World” has come to expect the same for them as well.
When Peter was writing about this issue he didn’t stop in the middle of the sentence. Peter was writing to God’s own children who are expected to develop their definitions for God’s words based on God’s plan for realizing how he meant them to be understood. So when he told us to be truly glad and that there is wonderful joy ahead, he continued the sentence God’s way. He wrote, “even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” Why would God treat us that way if he loved us so much? The problem isn’t God, it’s us. Just because we think that we are really trusting God doesn’t mean that we really are one of God’s kids. Peter went on to point out that the trials that God allows into our lives will show us whether our faith is genuine of not. Real faith responds to real trials, with real willing obedience to learn the lessons that come from the God who knows what we need in order to grow up. The pain that these trials bring exposes the sin we are holding on to instead of holding on to our Savior. The genuineness of our faith is like gold that continues to become increasingly pure with the heat of the loving discipline that keeps us holding on to God like never before. The wonderful joy and freedom and meaningful life that God gives us now, is only a dim shadow of the praise and glory and honor that God has planned for us on the day that he hands out our eternal rewards to his faith filled children. He points out one other thing. The pain that we bear, and the challenges that come with it, are hidden from most of the people around us, but on that judgment day our rewards will be revealed to the whole world. Wow! We serve such a wonderful God. Dear God, please help us to hold on to you and Never Give Up.
1 Peter 1:6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Roy Wisner
