Peter wrote an epistle to the elect pilgrims about their heavenly inheritance in Christ, who called them to live in the hope of his resurrection from the dead. We are called to an eternal inheritance in heaven, which is incorruptible and undefiled. We are being preserved by the power of God, through our faith, for our salvation that is to be revealed on the last day. Peter said that the church should rejoice that they were experiencing some brief trials. This was so that their faith could be tested by fire, being more precious than gold to be found to give glory when Christ returns. Although we have not seen Jesus in the flesh, we rejoice in the hope for the salvation of our souls. The prophets of old testified of the grace that would be available to us. They also testified of how Christ would suffer and then be exalted. The things revealed to the prophets and to us as the church, even the angels longed to know of.
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (I Peter 4:12). Peter also spoke about trials by fire and urged the church not to consider this a strange thing. He encouraged us to rejoice that we were sharing in Christ’s suffering, so that his glory would be revealed in us. He called us blessed who were persecuted for the sake of Christ, as the glory of Christ would rest on us. He warned that our suffering should not be because we had been a murderer, a thief, an evil doer or a busybody in other people’s business. If we suffer for being Christians, we rejoice and glorify God. The time has come for judgement to begin in the house of God. If judgement starts in the church, what will happen to those who don’t serve God?
“Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear”” (I Peter 4:18)? There were also Old Testament parallels to refining and purifying, when God promised to refine with fire and purify with soap. He promised to sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver and to purify the sons of Levi (Malachi 3:2). God would purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering of righteousness. Then the offering unto the Lord would be pleasing as in the former days of old. God will come near his people to bring about judgment swiftly, against the wicked. He desired for his people to return to him as they had turned away from his ordinances. Isaiah also spoke about the refining fire of God as He refined Isreal for his glory. The people had turned away from God, so he tested them in the furnace of affliction and refined them as silver (Isaiah 48:10).
The fire of God serves to purify the church so that we reflect his image and likeness. Fire does not sound pleasant to anyone and trials are not appealing. If we consider when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, the fire consumed the men who tossed them in. This happened while the three Hebrew men were alive, walking around in the fire. A fourth man joined them in the fire whose likeness was as the son of God (Daniel 3:16-18). God is with us in the fire, so that we will not be consumed. Instead, the fire of affliction will serve to purify and refine us for the glory of God. Gold, silver and precious metals are refined through heat and fire, until they are pure enough to reflect the refiner’s image. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we are able to survive situations that would destroy others, because of the greater one who is with us.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2).
A.P.-Y. – Anneta Pinto-Young
Devotional Inspirations 