Forged in Fire
“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.”
At our house, we love watching the show Forged in Fire. There is something special about watching the weapons take shape that are being made. The competitors often have some troubles along the way. The difficulty may be in how they need to start by harvesting the steel needed to form a billet from old cars, machines, or other items. It may be that while they are heating the steel and shaping it, cracks start to form. At times, they quench the steel too quickly while it is still very hot, and they create a warp. Whatever the issue, it is fun to watch how they work through it all and, by the end, craft a weapon that can be all that it is meant to be.
Our faith and growth in Jesus often resemble that process. The trials we go through can be difficult and at times feel as if we are in the midst of a white-hot fire. As the fire prepares the metal for shaping, our trials prepare our faith to be shaped as well. Just as the master blacksmiths know what must be done to get the metal ready, Jesus our master smith knows how to use our trials for our good. (Romans 8:28 says: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.)
It is never easy to go through trials. They can feel overwhelming, confusing, discouraging, stressful, and at times without an end. Trials may bring with them temptations and thoughts of doubt. Trials, at times, stir up attitudes of the heart that need to be transformed. Trials can come because of our own actions, because of the actions of the world around us, because of targeted spiritual attacks, or simply because God wants us to grow in a particular area. They may be used as discipline from God or to be an encouragement by revealing to us the presence of God in our lives. But what we must understand is that no matter why we are going through trials, they are necessary. Trials are necessary because without them our faith will not be purified and will not become what Jesus wants it to become. (Note: Asking the Holy Spirit to help us understand where a trial comes from will help us know how to pray about it effectively. Discernment here is a good, necessary thing.)
Just like the blacksmith needs the fire to work on the metal so he can shape it, Jesus allows us to go through trials so the Holy Spirit can shape us. And the working over brings about the result that God wants. (2 Timothy 2:20-21 says: In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.)
The trials we endure show our faith to be genuine. It’s not just a testimony to the world that our trust has been placed in Christ, but it testifies to our own soul that the faith we have is indeed saving faith. It has been purified; it has been shaped and, in the end, Peter says that Jesus uses all of this to make our faith strong and brings with it praise, glory, and honor on the day of the Lord’s visitation. So, as you face the trial of today, remember the Lord is at work and He will bring about a beautiful result that will carry you through to the end and will bring with it the praise of, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
