These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1 Peter 1:7 NLT)
Everybody goes through hard times and our lives are all woven together so that what effects one of us effects us all. It is possible that there are times when the sufferings we go through are allowed by God for a purpose that involves us. There are other times when our sufferings are the result of decisions made as a result of the free will that God has given to people. In either case, the strength of our faith is revealed by how faithful we remain while going through the troubled times.
In Jesus' day, gold was processed by being melted in fire. Any impurities in the gold would rise to the top and could be removed while the gold was in its liquid state. Then, only when it was pure gold, would the craftsman cool it down and create a work of art.
Peter tells us that we are more precious to God than works of art made from pure gold. You are priceless to our Father. Passing through the fires of hardship in this life prepare us for the life to come when Jesus is revealed to the whole world.
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