BUILT BY FIRE M. Andrew 1 Peter 1:6-7 “Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (GNT) “Wherein ye rejoice, though now for a season (if need require) ye are in heaviness, through manifold tentations, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth (though it be tried with fire) might be found unto your praise, and honor and glory at the [g]appearing of Jesus Christ:” (GNV) It certainly takes a lot of guts, persistence, and keeping one’s goal focused to succeed in life. ‘Anything is possible’, they encourage, but sometimes after encouragement one may say, ‘But you can’t do that’. This is when trial by fire is tested. One has to be a willing vessel. It is easy to be on the wide path where many other people are with you. It is a hard pressed road on the narrow road, where many people on the wide path may tell you, ‘You’re on the wrong path’. Peter was a hardcore fisherman, the Bible tells us. I personally know a few hardcore Bristol Bay fishermen. He was hard pressed when he realized the environment he worked on, the sea, gave way under his doubt and fear. By faith he walked on water! Peter said ‘I love you, Lord’ when Jesus asked him if he loved him. He was hard pressed when people recognized him to be a follower of Jesus and he denied three times. Then Peter realized the power of the Holy Spirit and his faith built by fire caused him to preach the Gospel and 3,000 converted to the ‘Way’. His faith, tested by extreme fire, was welcomed by Jesus into glory when he was crucified upside down. On the other hand, Judas Iscariot suffered shame and eternal death when he became a conspirator against Jesus. I’m sure Jesus would have forgiven him, but he failed the test and burned like wood. The Bible defines these two differences; one made of gold and the other of wood. Gold become pure with intense fire while wood burns up into ashes. Gold becomes more precious with more fire while…..well…..can ashes burn more? Each of us has a choice to make; to become stronger with tests and trials or give in and give up. Some men and women of God are gems like diamonds. They may have been tested for a long time under intense pressure and extreme heat. They may have walked in the deep valley many others cannot comprehend. Yet at the end, they arise as a precious gem in God’s eyes. God used precious stones to be placed on the high priests breastplate. The catholic church is often misunderstood as a Catholic Church, but its real meaning is the universal church, whole body of Christians, and pertaining to all those who believe in Jesus Christ. The original church separated into the two main churches we see today; Orthodox and Catholic. From these two branches many have budded off the Catholic Church while a few from the Orthodox Church. Trial by fire kept the Eastern Orthodox mainly intact and strong, even today. While the other branch budded many branches and still budding into different branches today. Who is true? Who is right? What is Christ’s real church? The Bible answers all that in Jesus’ personal letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2&3. Jesus gave each church a commendation, a complaint, and correction. Those who overcame are the true church of Christ. It’s factual some have broken off from the true church. It’s true, many have failed and become as wood and burned off. But it’s written, those who repent and return to Christ will eat from the tree of life, will be given a crown of life, will eat manna and get a new name, will rule over nations with a rod of iron. They that overcome shall receive a white garment and their names confessed before the Father, shall be a pillar in God’s Temple and given God’s name! As precious metals are purified by extreme fire; so are all Christians who suffer and sustain ridicule by many for being a pronounced Christian! It may be a personal challenge for many, being tested by heat. It may be relationship with spouse, with family, and friends. Or it may be issues with the body of believers. This is very evident today. Many issues between the different members of the Body of Christ, the universal church! Some may be defrocked, excommunicated, and separated. But everyone must move forward by repenting and forgiving or by reconciliation and restoration. All things were created by Jesus Christ, including these different churches of many denominations. It is no one’s right to claim their denomination or religion is better or worse. This judgment was, is, and will be God’s right, not men or religion! Jesus tests His Church by fire! Jesus holds the churches in his right hand! Jesus will judge everyone, every church, and every nation! Revelation 1:14-16 “His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes blazed like fire; his feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished, and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth. His face was as bright as the midday sun. (GNT) 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 “For we are partners working together for God, and you are Gods field. You are also Gods building. Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder and laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each of you must be careful how you build. For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid. Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. And the quality of each persons work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyones work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.” (GNT) 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 “So we are always full of courage. We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lords home. For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight. We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord. More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there. For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. We will each receive what we deserve, according to everything we have done, good or bad, in our bodily life.” (GNT)
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:08:21 +0000