Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (I Peter 1:3)
On July 16th, 64 AD Nero hired arsons to burn Rome to the ground and make way for his new construction project. Nero “fiddled while Rome burned” and the government blamed Christians for the terror. Scattered now by a “fiery trial,” believers everywhere were being persecuted for the faith. The Apostle Peter’s Jewish congregation was driven out of the Promised Land and were now “sojourners, strangers, and pilgrims.”
The Lord told Peter to “strengthen the brethren” and Peter did when he wrote his two epistles. “The Apostle of Hope” encouraged his spiritual family by telling them of the “lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” In this hope believers experience eternal “great rejoicing” through the midst of “a season of heaviness and manifold temptations.” Joy and suffering exist at the same time for the believer.
I Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Our “Lively Hope” is Preserved
I Peter 1:4-5 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
All things of this world “fade away” away by degrees – health, wealth, finances, and kingdoms. Look at a picture of yourself from ten years ago. You are fading away!
The good news is that while the things of this earth “grow strangely dim” as the hymn writer says, we have been born again or “begotten” into an “inheritance incorruptible.”
We have this inheritance because Jesus went to the cross and took what we deserve so we could get what He deserves. When Christ died for our sins, he gave us life. He took our sin and gave us His righteousness. He took our debt and gave us His inheritance. As joint-heirs with Christ we have an “inheritance incorruptible.” We are born again into a wealthy family!
Romans 8:15-17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Our “Lively Hope” Is Being Purified In Suffering
I Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: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:
Peter echos to his flock, other Bible passages when he compares the saints trials here on earth to the smelting process. Proverbs 17:3 says, “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.” Job said, “When I am tried I shall come forth as gold.” According to Peter: “the trial of your faith is more precious than gold that’s tried in the fire.”
Gold is “tried” when the the metallurgist puts the rough ore into the kiln and the master craftsman turns the heat up to extreme temperature to melt the gold. During this “time of testing” the melted metal will release its impurities. The waste matter floats to the top of the gold and creates a scum called “dross.” The dross is scraped off the surface of the gold. The process is repeated over and over by the master. The craftsman knows his work is complete when he looks down into the gold and sees his own reflection. The gold reflects the master.
Christ is our Master Craftsman. He turns up the heat in our life. Lesser dying hopes bubble to the surface and are scraped away. As hope in this present world melts, we do have many times a lot of suffering, but at the same time the “lively hope” we have in Christ becomes more visible. “When purified as gold” we will see how more precious than gold our lively hope in Christ is. We will see more of Christ and Christ will see His reflection in our lives.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrate this for us. They were thrown literally into a kiln known as the “fiery furnace.” The men’s earthly chains fell off in the fire and they were “loose” and able to walk with Christ in the fire. In the fire their “lively hope” became a shining reality. The presence of Christ is in the midst of the fire.
Quote: “The Lord delivers us through the fire, not from the fire.”
Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
“God has made nothing in vain; he especially makes nothing in the spiritual kingdom in vain. He made faith with the intent that it should be used to the utmost and exercised to the full. We must expect trial because trial is the element of faith. Faith without trial is like a diamond uncut, the brilliance of which has never been seen. A fish without water or a bird without air is faith without trial. We may surely expect that our faith will be tested.” – Charles Spurgeon.
I Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.