There was a Student who complained about one of his professors, saying, “It just isn’t fair, every Friday he gives us a surprise quiz.” Now, if this professor gives them a quiz every Friday, how can it be a surprise? Just as the student should not be surprised by that quiz every Friday, Peter counsels us not to be surprised when we are being tested. He tells us, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”
Our testing should not be a surprise, says Peter. In fact, Peter goes on to tell us how we should react to this fiery trial. He says that we should be happy about it and rejoice, inasmuch as we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, we may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Now it is easier said than done, but it is the right reaction for us to have. We should rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Peter knew what he was talking about, for he had experienced some of this suffering and he actually did rejoice.
We pick up that story in Acts shortly after Pentecost. Peter is actively preaching and converts are being added to the Lord every day, multitudes both of men and women. The apostles are arrested and thrown in jail, but an angel in the middle of the night opens the prison doors and tells them, “Go, stand, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
The next morning, when the high priest orders them brought out of prison, the cells were empty. Much to the surprise of the rulers, the jailed apostles were in the temple teaching the people. The apostles were brought before the council and “commanded not to teach in this name.” The council said, “behold you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” The Jews had forgotten that they had chanted, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” What short memories.
The apostles were beaten and commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus. What should they do? “They departed from the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” So Peter is not asking us to do something that he had not done.
In fact, Peter learned his lesson from the Lord Jesus himself, who told them in Luke what to do when you are “hated and reproached and cast out as evil for the Son of man’s sake.” Jesus says we should, “Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
How many of us take the Lord’s words seriously and actually leap for joy when we feel overcome with trouble? It really works, but it won’t work unless we do it. So the next time we feel the heat of the fiery trial, don’t be surprised, but instead count it a joy that we are loved, and that we are being prepared for places in the kingdom soon to come. Let us leap for joy for behold, our reward is great.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One