More Precious than Gold

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."  (1 Peter 1:3-9)

The message given yesterday by the new pastor on our staff shared the truths he had learned about pain as he worked through his own personal experience with trials.  Suffering is a major theme in 1 Peter, but in this particular passage it shows that we should:

• Always keep FOCUS on what is eternal  - We have a living hope based on our relationship with Christ.  Biblical hope is absolute confidence and assurance; and the content of our hope is the inheritance which will never perish, spoil, or fade, protected by God in heaven for us.  And in vs 5, we are shielded by faith to be able to receive this inheritance; for an inheritance does not mean much if we do not live to receive it.
• REMEMBER that trials are not eternal - Trails are "for a little while" (vs 6), so they won't last forever.  
• ALLOW God to use trails in our lives - Though trials hurt and suffering is painful, just as fire enables impurities to be skimmed off as gold is refined, God can do amazing things and serious work through those broken by pain of trials.  The grace and mercy of God is greater than our pain.

So, we can rejoice in the midst of our pain, for we can flourish as children of God through our trials keeping our eyes on the eternal perspective.