“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed…” 1 Peter 1:7-9

Life is a test. The reality of life in a fallen world is that there is grief and all kinds of trials. The original readers of 1 Peter experienced it, and we do too. There is loss, hardship, and even persecution. The Apostle Peter gives us a theology of grief and trials.

The context for our experience of grief and trials is rejoicing over the gift of salvation. Peter doesn’t allow us to just complain – though there are things to complain about. He reminds us that Salvation is the biggest reality of all, and so we ‘greatly rejoice.’ This is the same word used by Mary when she praises God over her experience of bearing the Messiah in her womb – she rejoiced in God. (Luke 1:46-47)

The time frame for this grief and trials is ‘now, for a little while.’ Peter is talking about the present age, between the cross and the coming of Jesus. It is a specific time that has lasted 2000 years, and could last another minute or another million years. Someday it will be different – but for now, in this age, there is grief and testing.

The purpose of these trials is that our faith will be proved genuine. When we are tried and tested the reality of our faith is shown. The same word is used by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 when he says that he runs with purpose so that he will not be ‘disqualified’ for the prize – literally be shown to be un-genuine. Our faith is worth more than gold – do we really believe that?

James 1:2-4 develops a theology of trials as well. For James the idea is not the genuineness of faith, but rather the maturing of our faith. We consider it joy when we experience trials because we know that the testing of our faith results in our being, ‘mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ Even Jesus was tried and tested, and was victorious in it. All of us are tried and tested as well. God brings us each to a point in our lives where we have to make a choice – are we going to follow Christ or not – in spite of trials? This is when we demonstrate the genuineness of our faith, when we have to not just think it, but live it.

But Peter doesn’t stop there – trials is not the most important part of the story. The result is ‘praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.’ When this little while is done there will be great celebration. And that joy of the future reaches back into the present, as we experience ‘an inexpressible and glorious joy’ while receiving the goal of our faith – the salvation of our souls. Notice the present tense – we are receiving it, though not completely experienced.

Grief and trials do not defeat us, they deepen us. We are more than conquerors through Jesus. (Romans 8:37-39) Do we understand the Biblical theology of trials? Have we lost our joy? Perhaps it is time to refocus our minds and allow God to give us the joy he has for us. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, gave himself for us; that we might live victorious lives – not defeated ones. May God give us His grace as we live by faith and hope.

Pastor Tim, November 11, 2007