I realized today that I need to stop being so occupied with the notion that there are things I desire which I do not have. In the end, everything we do have or don’t have is for Christ anyway! Today I want to take a look at a verse from 1 Peter 1:3-9:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

I love this passage of Scripture! It reminds of Ephesians where Paul talks about learning to be content with many things or with nothing at all. In 1 Peter, the author reassures us that our true inheritance is being held for is heaven – an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading one! This really struck me a little humorous because when you think about, whatever we receive here on earth, we defile. I know that might seem strong language to some, but isn’t it true? We automatically fall into our own sense of entitlement to the point where we feel like our house, our car, our money, and our family is all our own, and even thinking that defiles those things God has granted us as gifts and blessings! So obviously, “according to his great mercy,” God has reserved the greatest gift he could give us in heaven. Our salvation. How exciting!

We read on, though, because Peter also says that right now, maybe for a little while, we are grieved and downtrodden by the trials of life. This is usually where you hear the illustrations about “falling down so we can get back up” and “you have to lose some to gain some” and all… but look what he writes here:

“so that the tested genuineness of your faith may be found! [Resulting in] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ!”

Even gold perishes in enough fire, yet we are not to be discouraged. Faith produces righteousness. Faith that God knows what he’s doing. Even in a time where money’s tight it’s transparent, and life just beats you down more and more, and work isn’t fair, school isn’t easy, and friendships fall apart we shouldn’t be focusing on any of those things as the source of our happiness or righteousness! In 1 Peter it says despite being able to see Christ, we love him. Despite seeing Christ, we believe in him, and in doing so, “obtain the outcome of our faith: salvation.”

Does that blow anybody else’s mind? Wow…

So the things in life that don’t go my way… I should be too preoccupied about. You know why? Because my grievances during these sore excuses for “trials” exist so that my faith may be genuine. To be honest, an open, genuine heart is one of my greatest aspirations.

Love you guys.

-ᵯ