COMFORT IN TRIALS
Being Found Unto Praise and Glory and Honor
at the Revelation of Jesus Christ
1 Pet. 1:6-7 In which time you exult, though for a little while at present, if it must be, you have been made sorrowful by various trials, so that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Exulting in the Last Time
In 1 Peter 1:6 the relative pronoun “which” does not refer to salvation; instead, it refers to the last time. This means that we exult in the last time. Whenever we consider the last time, we should exult, that is, we should become joyful and rejoice to the uttermost.
In verse 6 Peter not only speaks of exulting in the last time, but also speaks of being made sorrowful by various trials. These trials are sufferings which test the quality of someone or something. Sometimes we need a certain trial, a trial that makes us sorrowful. When we are made sorrowful by a particular trial, we need to realize that such a trial is necessary. However, this trial is “for a little while at present.” The “last time” is coming. At that time God’s full salvation will be revealed to us. Therefore, we should exult in the last time. (Life-study of 1 Peter, msg. 5)
Our Faith Needing to Be Proved
In verse 7 Peter gives the reason we are put into trials. We are put into trials because our faith needs to be tested, proved. The Greek word rendered “proving” means testing for approval. It is the proving, the testing, of our faith, not our faith itself, that may be found unto praise. This may be compared to an examination in school related to a student’s study. It is not the student’s study itself that is found approved; rather, it is the examination that is found to be approved. A good student will actually welcome the opportunity to be examined. An examination will prove how thoroughly he has studied and how much he knows concerning the material on which he is being tested. Without examinations, a superior student would never be proved to be outstanding. A student who studies diligently may look forward to an examination because it will prove, both to the student himself and to others, that he is an excellent student. This is an illustration of what Peter means by the proving of our faith.
Resulting in Praise, Glory, and Honor at the Revelation of the Lord
In verse 7 Peter continues saying, that the proving of our faith, “may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” If through the various trials we have a positive proving of our faith, this proving will result in praise, glory, and honor when the Lord Jesus comes back. First, the Lord Jesus will tell us that we have done well. Following this praise, there will be a condition of glory and, along with that, a position of honor.
Peter goes on to say in verse 8, “Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, not seeing at present yet believing, you exult with unspeakable and glorified joy.” Glorified joy is joy immersed in glory. We also have a song in our hymnal that says, “It is joy unspeakable and full of glory” (Hymns, #1153). We exult with a joy that is immersed in glory. This joy is immersed in the Lord as glory; thus, it is full of the expression of the Lord. (Life-study of 1 Peter, msg. 6)
Prayer:
Lord, thanks for promised us the proving of our faith should be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed upon us. When I think of the glory that day, I am full of joy and full of praising!