“Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime.
Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine.
When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.”
1 Peter 1:3-7 MSG
What do you keep on display? In a place of prominence? As a symbol of your accomplishment?
Your graduation certificate from medical school? Your first blue ribbon at the County Fair? A photo of you at the summit of Long’s Peak? Or, maybe it’s that worn wedding ring you’re wearing on your left hand?
Well, you know what God has framed? Has hanging up on His entrance wall for all to see? On-display BIG-TIME? No, it’s not a photo of you (even though He loves you very much). It’s your FAITH! Yup! Your faith is on-display as evidence of His victory! Notice I said “His victory”.
See, Jesus has the victory all signed, sealed and delivered …He’s yours for the believing. He did it all. Raised from the dead. Given you a brand-new life and everything to live for. Given you a future in heaven…which starts now!
All that is required is faith. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “being certain of what you hope for and sure of what you do not see.” So, as you are walking through life…coming into a problem, in the problem, or coming out of the problem…you will still be okay because you know that you know (that’s faith) that God has allowed this circumstance for your good and His glory.
Your faith grows stronger only when it is tested…and it is tested so that your faith will grow stronger. So when the next storm comes, you won’t be swept off to sea by waves of doubt. No, you will be on THEE ROCK, so the waves will just wash over you. At the first drop of rain, you will begin to ask, “What do you want me to learn through this, Lord?”
Oh, what sweet victory!! Nothing in your circumstances have changed…but you have! Your faith is rock-solid sure in the Author and Finisher of your faith. Genuine faith put through this suffering comes out PROVED genuine!!
