The faith we should place in God has been defined as a “confident anticipation of things hoped for, a full persuasion of things not seen”, without which it is impossible to please God. “This is a faith which lays hold of the past and future. The person who possesses it knows what is testified concerning Jesus by the Apostles and is fully persuaded of its truth; he also knows the promises which God has made concerning things to come and he confidently anticipates the literal fulfilment of them. Laying hold of these things with a firm faith, he acquires a mode of thinking and a disposition which are estimable in the sight of God and by baptism into Christ becomes of the seed of Abraham and therefore an heir according to the promise” (Elpis Israel).
We obtain this faith by a careful study of the Word of God (Rom. 10. 17). Faith, then, is not just an abstract quality. Our faith in God should be a driving force that causes us to do those things which are well pleasing in His sight.
Our faith is being tried to see whether it is genuine and also to build our characters that we may grow “in favour with God and man”. One way this can be done is by chastisement. A father chastises his son and corrects him so that he will do that which is right. Solomon tells us, “He that spareth the rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Prov. 13. 24). Just as a father does, so God will correct us who are his children (Heb. 12. 5-1 1).
In 1 Peter we find the Apostle encouraging the Jewish believers to whom he was writing by reminding them of the glorious hope to which they were called and exhorting them to rejoice in the trials and persecutions which they suffered because of it.
Peter tells them that although they rejoiced in this hope (v. 3-5) they must be prepared to suffer persecution if the need arose, “in order that your tested 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” (v. 7; see also R.S.V.). These verses apply equally to us as they did to the believers to whom Peter was writing. We rejoice in this same hope and should be prepared to encounter trials just as they did so that our faith may be tested and eventually “redound to praise, glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ”.
James, in the 1st chapter of his epistle, has very similar ideas. In verse 2 the phrase “count it all joy”, comes from the same root as the word “greeting” in verse 1, and it means “to wish joy”. The joy James now sincerely commends to his readers is that which is experienced in trial. Trial in itself cannot be rejoiced in (Heb. 12. 11), but it is a purifying influence and a forcible reminder of true values. If we study the life of Jesus we will see how that these two principles operated through his life, for “though he were a son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered”. In verse 12 we are given the final picture. There is a beautiful contrast of ideas between verses 11 and 12. In verse 11 we see that as soon as the sun rises the flowers and the grass fade away, just as does the man who places his trust in riches rather than in God, but those who endure to the end and are found worthy will receive the victor’s crown, which is eternal life.
Throughout the Scriptures the refining of gold or silver is used as a symbol of a trial. In Proverbs we read, “The fining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold; but Yahweh trieth the hearts”. Isaiah 48. 10 expresses the same idea. We can see from these two passages that God tried Israel in the same way as gold and silver are tried. The same applied to the first-century believers. In 1 Peter 4. 12-16 the Apostle is telling his readers that they should rejoice in the trial that was coming because by so doing they were partaking of Christ’s sufferings. Christ suffered great things for us (Isa. 53), and should not we be prepared to suffer a little for him? Peter also tells them not to be ashamed if they suffer as a Christian. In Peter’s time, to be a Christian meant that you had to put up with a lot of ridicule and suffer endless persecution. The word is used only three times in the New Testament and each time it carries with it the idea of suffering. The term was held in contempt by the general mass of people and they felt that those who associated themselves with the teachings of Christ were not fit for anything.
How does this affect us?
We are not persecuted like those early believers, but the principle still exists that our faith must be tried. The trials we encounter are more difficult to overcome because they are usually things we have to bear individually. These trials can crop up at any time and anywhere during our daily life: ill-health, financial worries, domestic, vocational or social problems. But whatever the problem you can rest assured that if you take it to God in prayer in the right way He will help you to overcome. We also have the assurance of Paul that we will not be tempted above that we can bear (1 Cor. 10. 13). And if you feel that you are not suffering trial in your life, do not be smug or feel self-satisfied, because something in your life is wrong! Paul says, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. Either you cannot recognise the trial or you are not living in accordance with the precepts laid down by God and affirmed by His son, Jesus Christ.
Each time we encounter a trial, God is, as it were, taking another coal and placing it on the fire, gradually building it up so that in the end all the imperfections are removed from our faith and it is left pure:an enduring faith, which will cause us to live a life and to possess a character which is well pleasing in the sight of God. Christ says, “To him that overcometh (or is victorious) will I grant to sit with me in my throne” (Rev. 3. 21).
To demonstrate how important a part faith plays in our lives we have chosen examples from the lives of Moses, Peter and Jesus Christ. Before dealing with these there is a principle in the lives of these people, the importance of which we must grasp, otherwise we may become guilty of crucifying the Son of God afresh (Heb. 6). In this chapter the righteousness of God is proclaimed in that He does not forget those who do his work. This is amplified in the case of Abraham in verses 13-15. Although Abraham is dead Paul says that he received the promise. Just how this was possible is explained in Rom. 4. 16-17 (N.E.B.). In the sight of God, therefore, Abraham is a living person. He believed in God and had the surety, by the oath in Genesis, that God would give the promises to him. It was this unwavering vision of the future which motivated Abraham throughout his life and by it he received commendation from God. It was because of the failure of the Children of Israel to keep this vision before them that 2,000,000 of them perished in the desert.
Moses was born into the tribe of Levi under conditions that we know were definitely planned by God. Moses learnt the wisdom of this world and was also taught the fundamentals of God’s wisdom. Moses could have become the king of the greatest nation on earth at the time, but he gave this all away because, as Hebrews states, “he saw him who was invisible” (Heb. 11. 24-27 N.E.B.). After being educated by God in the wilderness for forty years Moses returned to Egypt as the champion Prince of Israel. The passover followed and Moses led the people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and the desert to Mount Sinai. The brightness of the vision in his mind, coupled with his great humility, enabled Moses to turn the wrath of God away from 6.st-roving the people of Israel (Ex. 32. 9-12). In verse 13 of this chapter Moses reminds God of the promise He had made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So sure of it was Moses that he knew that God would not fail and we see the result in verse 14, where it says, “Yahweh repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people”.
The second example we have chosen is the Apostle Peter, of whom much has been written, especially of his temperament. Yet some of the most beautiful answers to Jesus came from his lips and his comments are among the New Testament gems. His eye was always on his Master, whom he loved so dearly. So much so that on one occasion he had no compunction at leaving the other disciples in the boat and walking upon the water to him. He was successful until he noticed the waves and his faith wavered and he began to sink and was helped by Jesus. Under terrific pressure he also denied the man he followed. Peter failed this time, but he was a better man for it. He had to rely on help and he showed his true character 53 days later when he was given the honour of being the first man to preach the Gospel in the name of Jesus Christ.
There are many facets in the character of Christ, the extent of which we can only conjure up in our minds. He was a man who could lovingly take a child into his arms and the next day speak scathingly to the hierarchy of the Temple. He could speak with patience and give instruction to his disciples and then show sheer amazement at the faith of the centurion. He could shut the mouths of self-righteous hypocrites and also do a wonderful work of healing to some poor, trusting person. He could weep over a murderous city and even sweat blood. We are all well aware of the circumstances surrounding Christ and the purpose behind his majestic ordeal, yet the principles he applied are identical to those which we must adopt. Christ learned the hard way, the only way, when trial came (Heb. 5. 8).
To have a tried faith eliminates neutrality.
We fail often, but our High Priest, by prayer, is prepared to help us. By our own mental resources he will help us to react correctly as we near the blast of the furnace of trial. Testing and trials are not easy, but a daily application of the principles laid down by God is needed so that we can keep this vision of the future before us at all times, just as the men of faith, whom we have considered, did. Time is the only way in which faith can be tested. Instant faith does not exist. If this can be realised, then instead of being an abstract word faith becomes a solid reality and we will not be discouraged by failure, but we will press on with an endeavour to perfect our faith.
In Hebrews 11. 37-40 (N.E.B.) Paul explains that these men of faith did not receive the promises immediately so that you and I could have the opportunity of pleasing God and therefore have a hope of obtaining a place with them in His kingdom. Let us follow Moses, Peter and Christ, not in their examples so much, because it is unlikely that we will ever be in identical situations, but in the principles that God has given to them and also to us. Remember, “To him who is victorious I will grant a place on my throne” (Rev. 3. 21).
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