Trial of Faith More Precious Than Gold

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 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 honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9

Verses 6-9 of 1st Peter, like verses 3-5, are all one sentence which contains multiple nuggets of truth. Continuing on from 1 Peter 1:3-5, we note that the saints of Christ have great reason to rejoice. Remember, that verse 5 ended with praise to God who not only has reserved a place in Heaven for His children, but also keeps them until the day their salvation will be revealed to them.

Many times, it is hard for us to feel like rejoicing because in this world we suffer many temptations and trials. Yet, verse 7 reminds us that these trials are all given to us by God for the perfecting of our faith. God views our faith as more precious than gold which does not perish even though tried with fire. Even though it is hard to think of it at the time, our faith is continually purified by the fires of trials which are a natural part of the sinful world in which we live.

How we look forward to and hope for the day when we see Christ! We want our faith to praise, honor, and glorify the Lord at His appearing. In raising our children, many times we must put boundaries or limits that cause our children to grow and mature into responsible adults. They strain and struggle with these boundaries, many times viewing us as adversaries, and yet our desire is for their own good. How much more does God allow burdens and trials to come our way to strengthen and purify our faith in Him?

What is the proper response of the Christian towards the Lord Jesus Christ while we are in the midst of suffering and burdens?

Though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

There is the heart of the true believer! Even though they do not see Him, they still believe and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Remember, this joy fills their hearts and lives even while they are in the midst of suffering. What, then, is the end of the faith of the true believer? The end of their faith is the salvation of their souls.

No matter what happens in our lives, no matter what our circumstances may be, the ultimate goal in life must be the salvation of our souls. In the end, nothing else matters!

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36