THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH

"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." -- I Peter I:7.

     At times Peter's faith assumed such proportions as to be almost audacious, and, because of his audacity, his failures were all the more apparent. But as some one has said, "It is always better to try and fail than not to try at all." Peter's faith caused him to try walking on the water. He failed because his faith faltered, but he had tried, and this was much more than any of the rest of the disciples had done. Even though he did fail to walk the waves, yet he reached the arms of Jesus, his goal, and the rest stood trembling in the ship.

     Back in the nature of that humble, impetuous Galilean fisherman were possibilities which must be brought out or the greatest good could never be secured from his life. A machine is not perfected by observing and dwelling alone on its good qualities, but its weak places must be searched out and corrected. This can only be done by subjecting it to the same pressure or causing it to do the same work it must do when put to actual service. A machine may work in theory, but, like Darius Green's wings, fail when put to the test.

     A man may learn theories, but grace itself is proven by trials. Peter's grace, put to the test, failed. This trial, although it was the cause of temporary loss and sorrow, was much more precious to the apostle than gold. Not that we would say that his fall was a blessing to him, but the lesson learned was one that would be remembered, especially when it had been learned at such a cost.

     Trials are a necessity to bring out our best. We never know either how much or how little we amount to till we are tried. We may think we are standing ever so firmly, only to be overthrown by the smallest wind of adversity; or we may feel so weak that we fear the least approach of evil and tremble lest we should fall, when our very consciousness of our own weakness is in reality a source of strength. Paul said that when he was weak then he was strong, and that out of weakness he was made strong. Self-strength is real weakness; and acknowledged weakness, coupled with God, is strength.

     Again, trials develop our graces, causing them to shine all the more brightly. Temptations to doubt, resisted in the Spirit, increase faith; temptations to hatred, successfully resisted, increase love; and temptations to depression and discouragement, bring joy and peace. Fire destroys dross but purifies gold. The fires of temptation and spiritual sorrow reveal and drive out sin, but cause grace to increase.

     The trial of our faith makes us more like Jesus. God chastens us that we may be partakers of His holiness. When we are tried we shall come forth as gold. No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous, but afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

     The trial of our faith is more precious than gold, for gold perishes, but faith endures; gold is earthly, but faith is heavenly; gold will purchase earthly good, but through faith are we saved.

     At one time men would have scoffed the idea that gold perishes, but it has been proven that the action of certain chemicals will destroy it. But that trial or fiery ordeal has never been invented and never will be invented that can overcome faith. All things are possible to him that believeth.

     Trials, borne in the Spirit, have a strong tendency to blacken and mar all the trifling and alluring joys of earth, and to bring out in strong relief the joys of a life hid with Christ in God, the desirableness of a heavenly home, but most of all they produce a yearning after Christ and a melting into His love.

     Looking at matters from this true point of view, why should we murmur? God's best saints have often been called upon to endure the greatest afflictions. Even so, lions' dens, fiery furnaces and foul dungeons could not alter their determination nor cause them to complain. "Even Christ pleased not Himself."

     "The sweetest flower that Bethlehem e'er saw bloom,

     Forth from a heart all filled with wondrous grace,

     Shed never forth its richness of perfume

     Till Calvary's cross upheld it in its vase."

     O Christ, when shall I see Thee? When shall my weary eyes rest in the full vision of Thee when shall they see Jesus only? When shall my lips speak only of Thee and with Thee? When shall my ears, so tired of the discordant notes of earth's minors and subtones, hear the music of Thy voice? When shall my heart, so long rent and torn with warring passions or fierce temptations, rest like a dove in the bosom of Thy divinity?

     Dost Thou answer that these shall come when my warfare is accomplished and my labor passed? Then I will welcome warfare, that I may shout the victory in Thee; I will hail every labor with gladness for each stroke helps to fill the measure of my task; I will lift every burden, for each burden passed brings me nearer the eternal weight of glory.

     Lord, to what shall I liken Thee, as, arising from the furnace of my trials, I behold Thee, even here, by faith? Thou art the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star; Thou art the fairest among ten thousand, yea, Thou art altogether lovely. As the Lily among thorns, as the Lamb among lions, as the Sun after midnight, as Joy after the utmost sorrow, as All Things Good and Lovely after all things evil and -unlovely, so art Thou in comparison to all things beside.

     Rutherford says: "Oh! if ye knew Him, and saw His beauty -- your love, your heart, your desires would close with Him, and cleave to Him. Love, by nature, when it seeth, cannot but cast out its spirit and strength upon amiable objects, and good things, and things love worthy; and what fairer thing than Christ? O fair sun, and fair moon, and fair stars, and fair flowers, and fair roses, and fair lilies, and fair creatures; but O ten thousand times fairer Lord Jesus! Alas, I wronged Him in making the comparison this way! O black sun and moon, but O fair Lord Jesus! O black flowers, and black lilies and roses, but O fair, fair, ever fair Lord Jesus! O all fair things, black and deformed without beauty, when ye are beside that fairest Lord Jesus! O black heaven, but O fair Christ! O black angels, but surpassingly fair Lord Jesus! I would seek no more to make me happy evermore but a thorough and clear sight of the beauty of Jesus, my Lord, Let my eyes enjoy His fairness, and stare Him forever in the face, and I have all that can be wished."

     For six thousand years death, the supreme terror of the world, has triumphed. Since erring Adam and Eve knelt, weeping, by the body of their righteous but murdered son, men have ever wept at the tombs of their beloved dead. Death stalks triumphant over the battle-field, gloating as a vulture on the carcasses of the slain. Death shrieks weirdly in the storm, it roars and rumbles in the earthquake, it stealthily lurks in famine and pestilence. Death is a heartless monster. No heart, no saint, is immune to the sorrow he brings. He seizes the infant or the sage, the poor or the rich, the wise or the unwise. He wrings the heart with sorrow, seizes our brightest flowers, or steals away the prop of youth or age. He tolls the funeral dirge, digs the grave and ruthlessly destroys the home.

     But Christ, at His appearing, will destroy death. Then captivity will be led captive, then death will be conquered, and life, full, joyous, and eternal, shall take the scepter of power. Till then be patient, be true, endure, and your joys shall never end.

     It must needs be,

     In this dark world, this world of sin and shame,

     That faith be tried.

     As gold, which fire destroyeth not,

  But purifies from dross, so faith,

     Triumphant in the fires of pain,

     Decreaseth not, and faileth not in power.

     From strength to strength it goes.

 On eagle's wings it soars, exulting o'er the foe.

     Fleet as the bounding hart, faith wearies not,

     Nor faints when burdened sore with care.

     Christ shall appear.

Then faith, forth from the furnace called,,

     Before the throne shall stand

     And by the King be praised;

     And, as the universe beholds,

  Christ shall its honor show;

     And o'er the soul, like oil o'er Aaron's beard,

     Glory and joy, celestial joy, shall flow,

     And to eternity endure.