Much More Precious Than of Gold

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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 Pet. 1:6-7)

Everyone that has been given to Christ Jesus has a guaranteed divine inheritance reserved for them in heaven. They also are securely preserved or guarded by the power of God through His gift of faith unto eternal salvation so that they will most surely receive that eternal inheritance. Therefore, the saints of God greatly rejoice knowing what reserved for them in eternal glory.

However, in our waiting for that day to come upon us, “if need be,” we must endure an abundance of trials, which must of necessity try even the most spiritual of men’s souls. Why “if need be”? Well, it is because no believer that is still here upon the earth is in a state of flawless faith. We all have room for improvement. It is absolutely essential for every believer to have their faith purified.

“FAITH” in God and the Lord Jesus is of far more value to the possessor and the giver than anything upon the face of this earth. The more purified and matured faith is the more valuable it is. Faith is the very strength of every believer. The stronger and purer it is the more spiritual strength the believer enjoys. Also, the more robust and purer faith is the more “praise and honour and glory” it presently and eternally gives unto the Lord Jesus Christ. A faith that is not growing and purifying is a dead faith and truly no faith at all. It is merely a pretentious faith fit for nothing but the hog’s trough.

Every true believer’s faith must by divine direction be purified from all worldly influences, which defile heavenly faith. We possess this faith in the world, but it is not of the world and must not be polluted by worldly influences, philosophies, and/or wicked imaginations. Faith can only and must only be matured and fortified by a process designed by God, which requires a holy purging of all that is not sanctified. The most valuable possession (in salvation) that a believer can be endowed with is holy faith purged by the Father so that it “might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” This is more precious than gold.