The Appearing of Jesus Christ
"That
the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
-I
Peter 1:7 [KJV]
Trials
and temptations are the means which God employs to manifest to the
soul the reality and strength of the faith which He bestows upon it;
for there is in every trial and temptation opposition made to the
faith that is in the heart; and every trial and temptation, so to
speak, threaten the life of faith. And they threaten it in this way.
Under the trial God for the most part hides Himself. He puts forth,
indeed, a secret power whereby the soul is held up, or otherwise it
would sink into utter despair, and be overcome and swallowed up by
the power of unbelief. Hence comes the conflict between the trial
that fights against the faith and the faith which fights against or
rather under the trial.
Now,
when in this trial, in this sharp conflict, in this hot furnace,
faith does not give way, is not burned up, is not destroyed, but
keeps its firm hold upon the promise and the faithfulness of Him who
has given it, this trial of faith becomes very precious. It is
precious to the soul when God again smiles upon it, and becomes thus
manifest as genuine. It is precious in the sight of God's people, who
see it and derive strength and comfort from what they witness in the
experience of a saint thus tried and blessed; and it is precious also
in the sight of God Himself, who crowns it with His own manifest
approbation, and puts upon it the attesting seal of His own approving
smile. But above all things, it will be found precious at the
appearing of Jesus Christ, and that not only in His various
appearings in grace, but in His final appearance in glory, for
of that the Apostle mainly speaks when he says that "it
may be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ."
-Gospel
report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802-1869 A.D.)
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