1 Peter 1:7 TLA "The trust you have in God is like gold: just as the quality of gold is put to the test with fire, the confidence you have in God is put to the test with problems. If you pass the test, your confidence will be more valuable than gold, for gold can be destroyed. So, when Jesus Christ appears, he will speak well of the trust you have in God, because a trust that has gone through so much evidence deserves to be praised. "
The beauty and durability of gold make it a precious metal. Much of its appeal lies in its gleaming and immaculate appearance, which seems to preserve perpetually. This quality is due to its resistance to water, oxygen, sulfur and almost all other agents. Numerous gold artifacts discovered on sunken ships and other places still retain the shine after hundreds of years.
However, it is worth mentioning the Bible's comment on something that lasts longer and is "much more valuable than the gold that perishes despite being tested by fire" (1 Peter 1:7). Gold "tasted", or refined, by fire and other treatments reaches a purity of 99.9%. However, even the refined gold perishes, that is, it dissolves, when it is bathed with regia water, a mixture of three parts of hydrochloric acid and one of nitric acid. So the biblical affirmation that ' gold perishes ' is scientifically accurate.
On the contrary, the authentic Christian faith ' preserves the Soul ' (Hebrews 10:39). One can kill someone who possesses a firm faith, as happened with Jesus Christ. However, those who have genuine faith are promised: "Try faithful to death, and I will give you the Crown of Life" (Revelation [Revelation] 2:10). Those who die faithful remain in the memory of God, who shall resurrect them (John 5:28, 29). There is no gold in the world that can achieve such a thing, and it is in this sense that faith is much more valuable than that precious metal. Of course, in order to have that value, it must also be tested. In fact, Peter said that ' the proven quality of faith ' was what exceeded gold in value. Jehovah's Witnesses will be pleased to help you study the Bible so that it will cultivate and maintain a firm faith in the true God, Jehovah, and his son, Jesus Christ, according to whom this "means eternal life" (John 17:3).
Just as gold is refined by fire, our faith is refined with the challenges that Surjen to fulfill the mission that the Lord has entrusted to each one. As he dictates 1 Peter 1:6-7: "In which you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you must be afflicted in various trials, that your faith may be tested, much more precious than gold, which although perishable is tested with fire , be found in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is manifested ". The fire burns all impurity, distilling only the purest and most valuable gold; So the Lord refines us in his trials to obtain the strongest faith.
- To set it
You knew that "the test of your faith produces patience" (James 1:3). One can only establish that faith that was tested and that as a result of overcoming that test he won in confidence and perseverance by the Lord. "and his lord said unto him: Well, good servant and faithful; You have been faithful about a lot, I will put you; Enter into the joy of your Lord "(Matthew 25:23). It only comes into the joy of having the continuous presence of God at his side, who is aware that the challenge is the means by which, trusting in him, ie, giving our faith totally, we can become good servants.
- To share
Sometimes we can feel that it is not easy to share our faith with the lost. But we are commanded to share this hope that we have in us. Paul wrote to Philemon that he prayed "that the participation of your faith may be effective in the knowledge of all the good that is in you by Christ Jesus" (Filemon 1:6). Knowing that in Christ he resided all his good, Paul was in continual preaching of that testimony, to cultivate in others the seed of faith in the Lord. As the word dictates in Acts 20:21 Paul went: "Testifying to Jews and Gentiles about repentance to God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
- in conclusion
God does not want us to put a question mark on our faith, but a point. A point that means that we have for him a consolidated faith, persevering, continuous, because in the end his work is for our good. The Lord knows our purpose well and also our capacity for faith. For that is their proof, because it will never be known if faith is real, if it was never ever proven. Trust the Lord.
