The Trying of your Faith

I Peter 1

7 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:

The path to eternal life is simply putting your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as payment for all your sins. Jesus was God, he came to earth as a man, and died for the sins of the whole world. If a person just believes that Jesus died for their sins and that their good works won't save them, then they can have eternal life. Now, once a person is saved, it may not be easy street going forward. Before a person gets saved, there life is usually pretty easy. I know there are exceptions, but as a whole most people have fairly easy lives. Once they are saved however, the real problems may begin. You see, before a person is saved they are a child of the Devil, after they are saved they become a child of God and the enemy of the Devil. Satan is not going to heaven, he is going to the lake of fire and he wants to take as many people with him as he can. Have you ever met someone who could not stand that someone had something that they didn't, and they wanted to destroy that person because of it? That is the Devil, he is so envious of God's people, because they are all going to heaven and he isn't. Now God loves his children, but he may try and find out how much they love him. This is where problems can start. God, may let that old Devil loose on you after you get saved, to test you and try your faith.

God wants all of his children to be blessed and filled with joy and peace. He also wants to grow them into mature believers in the Lord. God does not want people to get saved and then just live as they please. They were bought with a price. Jesus was tortured and died for them. Because God bought them with a price, they now belong to him. He is now free to do whatever he feels is necessary in their lives, to make them into what he wants them to be. He does not do this out of malice or evil, but out of love. Let me tell you, it does not feel like love some of the time. God want's to try you and mold you into the image of Christ. This often conflicts with what a person wants in their life. People all have their own desires and wants, their own will for their lives. On the other hand, God has his will for a persons life. These two wills contradict each other and cause problems. When you want it your way and you don't get it, it can make you bitter and angry. This is a big reason why people don't want to get saved. They have a nice easy life and they don't want anything messing it up. Some saved people can be the same way. They want it their way and to hell with you God. Sorry to use course language, but that is how they think. This is the wrong way to live the Christian life. You must bend and be flexible with God. The more you resist and hold on, the more you break. You will have a hard life of misery and despair if you fight against God. He has never lost, he is undefeated, a perfect record. If you think that you will impose your will over God, then get ready for a miserable life. We can all have a sweet life blessed by God if we just submit.

God will put things in our lives that we do not want. It can evoke anger towards God. Why God why me? We must learn to trust him. Trusting God is hard when it seems like he is out to get you, but he is not. Through trials and tribulations, God grows us into what he wants us to be.

Luke 22:42- Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Frank Sinatra had a famous song where he proclaimed "I did it my way." This is in direct opposition to the will of God. He expects us to submit to his will. One of the best ways for him to do that, is by putting our faith to the test. He wants to see if we will submit to his will or if we will disobey and do things our way. Our way is the wrong way. We must endure the hardships he puts in our path and trust that he will bring us through it. This develops faith and grows us into mature believers. There may be many tests in believers lives that they do not want to go through, but in the end they are better off for it. This helps us to trust the Lord, and have a stronger relationship with him. He wants to be in our lives. He does not want us to get saved and then forget he exists. Like having a friend who stops talking to you, after you do something truly great for them. No, God wants a strong relationship. He wants us more focused on him, and less focused on the world.

I recommend all believers read the bible every day. It is the instruction manual to life. Some people go through these trials not knowing what is happening to them.

1 Peter 4:12- Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

If a believer does not read the bible and pray daily, they may not live the life that God had planned for them. God wants us to trust and put our faith in him. Whatever happens to us, it is for our good. Allow God to work in your life, do not fight him, simply submit. I find it good to ask God in my prayers, what his will is for my life.

As Christians we must be willing to let go of this world and live for God. Doing so will grow us into what God wants us to be. Then comes the blessings. God wants to bless our lives, but first we must earn it. Salvation is free, blessings are costly, but very worth it. Let God test you, let him mold you, and let him bless you. If you want to live your best possible life here on earth, then submit yourself to the will of God and his trials for your life. You will be the winner in the end.

I hope you enjoyed this article. If you are not a Christian, I invite you to get saved now. Tomorrow may be to late. To get saved all you have to do, is admit that you are a sinner and that Jesus Christ died for your sins. The only way to take away sins is with the pure shed blood of Jesus Christ. Good works can not take away sins. If they could, then Jesus Christ died in vain. Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead as payment for all sins. Once you believe that, you are saved forever. You did nothing to earn it and you can do nothing to lose it.

Galatians 2

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

John 3

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Ephesians 2

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Acts 16

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.