Strengthened Through Trials

1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

My wife’s best friend from childhood died expectedly in her sleep early Saturday morning. She got the call from her friend’s phone but it wasn’t her friend calling, it was someone at the house using the phone to call Jeannette’s friends to tell them what happened. Faye and Jeannette had been best friends since they were eight years old.

As we later reflected on all of the years (I had known Jeannette throughout the 35 years of my marriage to Faye), we walked through sad times and happy times in her friend’s life. Finally, we discussed the solemn but comforting assurance that because Jeannette was a Christian Faye will get to see her again someday.

That can be a hard consolation when faced with the immediacy of loss. We rarely look beyond the demarcating line from earth to heaven. Eternity seems distant, way out there, and not connected to today. Today is right in front of our face, square in the windshield of life, the reality of all reality shows, as we live every minute that ticks away on our personal earthly life clock.

Peter and James had perspective. They were around when Jesus was tried and crucified. Peter had even witnessed the trial and torture, providing an illustration with his triple denial of Christ. James would have heard about both the trial and crucifixion from his mother, who witnessed these events, and then he would see his resurrected brother in the flesh, the latter event likely the impetus for his conversion and faith.

So, as each of these men of history writes about the legitimacy and purpose of trials, they’re looking beyond the actual events to the outcome. Why do we strive? And what is the purpose of suffering? Why do we look beyond the tests and trials? We’re working out maturity, for a faith that is rock solid, for a foundation that will stand through the storms of time, even though they be hurricanes. Paul told the Philippians in chapter two of his letter to them, to work out their salvation through fear and trembling, because God has a plan. Then they’ll shine like stars in contrast to the rest of the broken world.

Paul also talks about it to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 6:13 when he says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

The full armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-17, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

How has the full armor of God been tempered by the fire of trial?

The belt of truth is meaningless unless it has been tested. Truth is just hope unless it has been tried and proven. Many have said that conviction is worthless unless it costs something. Its value is only established by what you paid in its defense.

The breastplate of righteousness was bought and paid for by the trial, the torture, the death tax paid by Jesus Christ and his resurrection. The passion of Christ was the trial by fire that changed eternity.

The gospel of peace stands in the face of evil daily. From Jesus to perhaps hundreds of thousands of Christians tortured and slaughtered in Rome to missionaries like Jim Elliot, who lost his life trying to reach the indigenous people in Ecuador, the gospel of peace has almost always exacted a price by trial.

The shield of faith gets stronger every time it is tested. Like truth, it is just hope until it has been tried and God’s faithfulness has been evidenced.

The helmet of salvation was only possible because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The sword of God’s word is filled with accounts of testing, trial, and Jesus overcoming the world.

The full armor of God has been wrought and made perfect through the fire of trial.

The crown that we will wear someday will have jewels on it, one for each event of trial and suffering that we have endured. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

These mature men, who will go to their death for their beliefs, reach back through thousands of years on the pages of God’s timeless book and they say, face the fires of trials with joy because as you go through them you will emerge like gold - mature, strong and beautiful.