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The Book of First Peter: Message Eight
By Dr. Michael
Guido, D.D.
"When faith in God goes, man
the thinker loses his greatest thought. When faith in God goes, man
the worker loses his greatest motive. When faith in God goes, man
the sinner loses his greatest help. When faith in God goes, man the
sufferer loses his greatest refuge. When faith in God goes, man the
lover loses his greatest vision. When faith in God goes, man the
mortal loses his only hope." So let's think on The
Trial of Your Faith as we turn to 1st Peter 1:7.
Note the faith. Mr. Wesley and his
associates were discussing the subject of faith. No one was able to
give a satisfactory definition. At last he called in an old lady who
loved the Lord. When she was asked to give us a definition for
faith, she answered, "It's taking God at His word."
"That will do," said Mr. Wesley. "That's good enough
for us all."
Note the fire. If faith goes,
everything goes. If faith remains, everything else remains. So faith
must be tested. It's written in 1st Peter 1:7, "That
the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise
and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Here's a
man who has some gold ore. He wants to know if it's genuine gold or
fools gold. So he puts it into the fire, and the fire reveals it.
Now the Lord wants to know if you're trusting in your feelings or
faith. I have a need. It's a great financial need. I've prayed
fervently and faithfully for this need. To date it hasn't been
supplied, though it's been on my heart a long time. Now if I
depended upon my feelings I'd have to say I don't expect an answer.
But I'm depending upon God's faithfulness, and I know the answer
will come. Paul and Silas, you know, were dragged before the
authorities for preaching Christ, and were stripped, beaten, and
cast into prison. That was a trial of their faith. But their faith
was revealed. "At midnight Paul and Silas sang." In their
suffering they had a song. A very dear friend ventured all on a
mining enterprise. He put all he had into it so he could get a lot
out of it to give to God. But the other night he phoned, saying,
"Mike, I've lost everything but God." The trial came. His
faith was revealed. He lost his gold, but men saw his God.
"Steel is iron plus fire. Soil is rock plus crushing." Our
Christian life, if we're to be what God wants us to be, is faith
plus the fire.
"He sat by the fire of
seven-fold heat, as He watched by the precious ore;
And closer he bent with a
searching gaze as He heated it more and more.
"He knew he had ore that
could stand the test, and he wanted the finest gold
To mold as a crown for the king to
wear, set with gems with a price untold.
"So He laid our gold in the
burning fire, tho we fain would have said Him nay,
And He watched the dross that we
had not seen as it melted and passed away.
"And the gold grew brighter,
and yet more bright, and our eyes were so dim with tears
We saw but the fire, not the
Master's Hand, and questioned with anxious fear.
"So He waited there with a
watchful eye, with a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit
more heat than was needed to make it pure."
Note the finish. The Bible says,
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of
gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise, and honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ." What a grand day that will be for His suffering
saints. The Lord will make up all that you've lost for your
faithfulness to Him. First, there'll be the "praise." If
you've been faithful, publicly He'll say to you, "Well done!
Good and faithful servant." Second, there'll be the
"honor." This refers to the crowns He'll give you. Not
only will He praise you in words, but also in action. Third, there's
the "glory." The Bible says, "If so be that we suffer
with Him, that we may be glorified together." Queen Victoria
visited a hospital to pin the Victoria Cross on a soldier who had
been faithful, but was badly wounded. When Her Majesty commended
Piper Findlater, that was the praise. When she was about to pin the
cross on him, he said, "I can stand, your Majesty." But
looking at the wounded man, she answered, "Oh, no, I will
rise." When she attached the Victoria Cross to his jacket, that
was the honor. Then his comrades cheered loudly. That was the glory.
The Queen honored the man who had honored his country. Will you be
honored by the Lord on that day? Then honor the Lord this day and
every day. And
"Ye fearful saints, fresh
courage take; the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall
break with blessings on your head."
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic
Association
All Scripture verses are
quoted from the New King James Version..
This series of messages on the
books of the Bible were originally written for
broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The
Sower." They are collected and reprinted here
for your enjoyment and spiritual edification.
