Many years ago, when I was young and foolish, I purchased a ring. I assumed it was silver. Not content to leave well enough alone, I made a design on it in enamel. In my adolescent haste, I thought that if I heated the ring with my father's propane torch, the heat would speed up the curing process and I could show off my creative efforts that much sooner.
I proceeded to the attic, where my father kept his tools. I found a piece of metal to set the ring on and lit the torch. Little by little, I brought the flame closer to the ring keeping it moving to avoid a hot spot. Suddenly, my ring was replaced with a small puddle of molten metal. The ring was not made of silver but of some white metal, probably pewter.
Now, I hadn't set out to prove anything about the quality of the material in the ring, but I ended up doing just that. I thought it was silver and that it could take the heat. It was pewter and couldn't. I learned something that day, and I'm still thinking about it.
I've met several people who are shocked when they discover that even though they believed in Jesus, they didn't automatically get out of jail, receive healing from an illness, find a spouse, get the job they wanted and so on. Somehow, and I'm not just sure how, these folk picked up the idea that if they'd believe in Jesus, life would suddenly become all they hoped it would be.
I've been reading the Bible for a long time and I've never noticed this idea there. What I have observed is that true faith is always tested. I don't believe our faith is tested to prove anything to God. He already knows what's real and what isn't. I think the testing of our faith is for our benefit.
Under testing, true faith proves genuine, grows and becomes stronger. James wrote to his Christian friends: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2 NIV).
Those who go through life without ever facing significant trials of faith are often unsure about just what they believe and what good their faith will be in the end. While no one enjoys the testing process, the end results are always reassuring.
Sometimes when people look closely at Jesus in the gospels, they are surprised to see that he often seemed to discourage people in their spiritual search. He tested them. Several went away still seeking to find eternal life through some other means because they were unwilling to commit 100% to the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. They were willing to believe, but still wanted the status that came from keeping rules, or still wanted to enjoy their wealth, or still wanted to put themselves, or other people, first.
If you have come to the point of putting your faith in the Lord Jesus and find that, instead of getting better things are getting worse, don't be surprised. Your faith will be tested. When it proves to be genuine, it will be worth much more to you than any amount of untested faith.
The apostle Peter wrote about this, saying: "...though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV).
Ron Hughes
© April 2008