Have Faith in God

1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
NASU

Faith tested by fire results in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Faith that is proven by the testing of fire is an authentic faith that proves to be centered in the object of Jesus Christ. Even though He is not seen He is loved and is the object of Christian faith. If He is the object of Christian faith, the Christian then believes that Jesus Christ will again take action. How is Jesus revealed? He is revealed when we discover the truth found in His Word. He is revealed when we take that Word to the prayer closet and He gives us assurance that it will come to pass. He is revealed when we have the eyes to see His continual work and presence in our lives.

Faith not only has an object, it has objectivity. The Word says that our faith will result in praise and glory and honor at the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In his book Don’t Just Stand There Have Faith, Ron Dunn points out that the objectivity of our faith is to get God’s will done on earth not our will done in heaven. The reason for our faith is not for us at all. The reason for our faith is for Jesus to be revealed among men. The reason for our faith is that His great name will be known. The reason for our faith is glory, honor, and revelation.

This revelation is a little bit like the bond servant, who at the end of his prescribed time of service, would have his ear punched through with an awl marking him as a servant to his master. The testimony was not about the servant, it was about his master. The master was so good to the slave that he agreed to serve him willingly.

Oh, and what about the results of faith? The results are joy inexpressible and full of glory flanked by salvation of our souls. Perhaps we believers whose faces look as if we have spent all night drinking from the dill pickle jar, would do well to move our eyes from ourselves and fix them upon the hope in Christ Jesus. Perhaps we should take Ron’s advice and seek to get God’s will done on earth rather than our will done in heaven. What was that the great catechism said, “The chief end of man is to know God and enjoy Him forever?” This is becoming a servant of Jesus who serves willingly.