2nd
Corinthians 4 says,
“Therefore,
we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward
man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are
not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are
not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).”
For most of
us, our afflictions and difficulties do not seem very light or momentary. At
first glance a lifetime of various victories and defeats doesn't feel momentary.
But what Paul is saying here is that in the light of eternity, and in the light
of the eternal work that God is accomplishing in each of us through our afflictions
and trials, it is a light affliction, and it is but for a moment because it is
working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Our troubles
will come to end one day, but they are accomplishing good things that will go
on forever in God’s Kingdom. And God is not just working all things for good
for us, but He is accomplishing His eternal purposes in the people around us
through our trials, and theirs.
That reminds
me of 1st Peter, chapter 1. Peter starts off by saying,
“Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant
mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that
does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3-4).”
Our
inheritance in the Lord is reserved for us who are “kept by the power of God.” That
is, surrounded, guarded, protected, and kept by the power of God through our
faith in Jesus Christ “for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (v. 5).”
In verse 5, Peter
is saying that the rapture of the church, the tribulation, the second coming, the
setting up of the Kingdom of Jesus is ready, it could be revealed at any time. That's
what he said in the early to mid-sixties of the first century AD. So, if it was
ready at that time, then he’s saying the rapture is imminent, it can happen at
any time. Our salvation is ready, and when the Lord’s timing is fulfilled, He
will come.
And then in
verse 6 Peter says,
“You greatly
rejoice in this,” speaking of that hope of salvation ready to come. We're
looking for Jesus and we're looking to inherit our inheritance, our eternal
bodies that cannot die and in which there is no impurity. We will be completely
holy and righteous, we will not have a sin nature anymore. All of this we
greatly rejoice in. Then he continues: “though now for a little while if need
be you have been grieved by various trials.” That word grieved could also be
translated “distressed.” These are very distressing and grievous times that we
live in now, and of course all of the last two thousand years, in various
places and in various ways, many Christians have lived with distressing
circumstances. This is written to the church, and there are many trials and
tribulations in this life for the followers of Christ.
But here's
why we go through trials. We just saw it in 2nd Corinthians 4:17, that God is
working a “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” through our
difficulties in this Christian life. The impact, the eternal purposes that God
is accomplishing through our trials that we don't fully comprehend now, they each
have eternal ramifications and purpose.
Now, in 1
Peter 1:7, Peter gives us more insight from the Holy Spirit and it’s really helpful
and encouraging to understand.
“So that
the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes,
though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation
of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation,
“apokalypsis” in Greek, like the Book of Revelation. Jesus is speaking of the
revealing of Jesus Christ that happens at the rapture and then at the second
coming and establishment of His Messianic Kingdom, the thousand-year reign of Jesus
on earth.
Let's break
down verse 7 a bit because this is so amazing when you think about how we get
worn out from the trials, the difficulties. It really seems like one thing
after another and we ask, “how can this be happening Lord and what is this for
and why are you allowing this?” Well, we know in 2nd Corinthians that
Paul said that God is working out something that far exceeds any difficulties
in this life. That His plan exceeds our trials by so much, by so far, that you
could call all of your afflictions in this life “light” and that you could call
an entire lifetime of affliction “momentary.” That's how much God is working
out for us in eternal terms, even though we can't fully comprehend all of that
now.
Peter gives
us a little more insight into that. Look at verse 7 in 1st Peter 1 again, “you've
been grieved, distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your
faith...” Now skip this next part of the sentence for a second, it is a
parenthetical thought. Reading it like this helps us grasp what is being said:
“that the genuineness of your faith… may be found to praise, honor, and glory
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Peter is saying that when God allows our
trials, it's like when gold is put into the refiner's fire. We are God’s
treasure, we are His “gold.” Why does gold need to be refined? To make it more
pure. And what happens when gold is made more pure? Its value increases.
So, our faith
is tested and tried and refined through our trials. For what purpose? So that
it, meaning you and I, may be “found to praise, honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ.” Whether we die and go to be with the Lord, or we
go to be with Him immediately when He’s revealed at the rapture or at the
second coming, the more refining that's been done in your life, the more praise
you will receive. The more honor you will receive. The more glory you will
receive. The purest gold receives the highest honor and is of the most value.
Now we see God’s
ability to work all things together for good for His children. We can see where
all of the refining leads. You’ve endured another trial and you have grown in
your faith. You've endured another trial and you have more commendations. And
when Peter says, “the genuineness of your faith,” he doesn’t mean God is
checking to see if it is real, if it is genuine. Peter is saying that the trial
is making it more genuine, more pure. Your faith is refined and becomes of more
value.
Without
question, our value to God is infinite and unconditional in Christ. In this
passage “value” is analogous of our purification, our sanctification. In other
words, maturing in Christ. Our sanctification leads to a deeper walk with Jesus
and to things we do for Christ in this life by His Spirit. Our trials make us
more like Jesus and lead to maturity and the accomplishing of the works that
God wants to accomplish through us, which things lead to praise, honor, and
glory; our rewards in Heaven! Peter is speaking of our sanctification and
purification. Not for salvation, but for maturing and growing in our Christian
lives, in our closeness and genuineness of relationship with Jesus. Read this
again: our trials lead to our purification and sanctification, which directly
lead to maturity and works done in the Spirit, which accomplish eternal
benefits and rewards; praise, honor, and glory in the Kingdom of God forever!
We are saved
by grace through faith immediately, and fully made holy and set apart by just
our simple faith in Jesus Christ; by our faith in the blood of Christ shed for
our sin and His resurrection for our life. But there is a work that God is
doing in us now that we are born-again, born from above. He is working out His
will in and through us now and forever. His will is that we live more holy
lives in this life, that we live our lives focused on Him, in communion with
Him, in relationship with Jesus. But of course, that only goes so far (even in
an entire lifetime) because we struggle against our old sin nature. Sometimes
it seems like it's barely gone anywhere! When we are with the Lord, when Jesus
arrives or we go to be with Him, that sin nature will finally be destroyed
completely.
What is
Peter’s point, then? That all of our fiery trials in Christ bring growth and
maturity in our walk with Him, and God is using them, not just in our life but in
the lives of the people around us. Most immediately, our family, our friends, our
co-workers, and people in church; our brothers and sisters in Christ. And other
people that we encounter, and people yet to put their faith in Jesus.
And so, as
we go through these things and God works them out- these trials, these
sicknesses, these persecutions, a variety of different things that bring trials,
we are adding to our reward. We are adding to our walk with Christ. We are
adding to the praise and honor and glory that we are going to receive from Him.
And the Lord is using us to add to His Kingdom!
The
disclosure of this truth here in First Peter should give us renewed hope and recharge
us to endure. We are so close to the return of Jesus. He's coming so soon; we can
hardly comprehend. It could be a matter of days. It could be months or years,
but it is so close now. He has delayed His coming thus far because God doesn’t
want any to perish, but all to come to life (2 Peter 3). But we are seeing
literally dozens of prophecies, hundreds of things happening every day around
the world, that show how close we are to the return of Christ, biblically
speaking. This can be proven, it is all laid out in the Word of God, the Bible.
The Lord is
coming so soon. Even if it is years away that's still very, very soon. Endure. Press
through. Know that God has a reason for the trials that you're going through. An
eternal purpose to bless us beyond all that we can think or imagine! And God is
never going to leave you or forsake you. He is holding you in His hand. He makes
that promise. If we call out on Him, if we put our trust in Him, He Himself will
answer. He Himself will deliver us.
Endure, keep
fighting the good fight of faith, persevere like a good soldier. Stay in your
Bible like it is the only way you will get through- because it is. Keep crying
out to the Lord and asking why He’s doing what He is doing, and He will show
you. Stay in the Word of God because look, it is all right there. He's doing a
work, a good work, an eternal work. When we're in Heaven 10,000 years from now
it will seem like a light affliction, it will seem like it was but for a moment.
And all of this you are enduring is bringing your family into the Kingdom,
bringing your friends into the Kingdom, your co-workers, other people that you
care about or maybe even people you don't care about, enemies.
Lord Jesus,
have mercy on your people. Come quickly, Lord. But use us until that time has
arrived.
The Lord
bless you and I hope this was a blessing and an encouragement. Grow in the
grace of the Lord, keep your face in your Bible, and keep looking up! The King
is coming very soon.
Watch the video: https://walkingwithjesus.net/encouragement-in-trials/
