The Three Truths
I was speaking to someone the other day and I am not sure exactly how it happened, but somehow we began talking about temptation. Has anyone here ever thought about this subject? This is something that if we begin thinking about can be quite perplexing. Therefore, today I want to speak to you about the three truths about of temptation that we all need to know. We will realize that: Life is full of trials and temptations, that there exists a purpose for trials and temptations and lastly, how to conquer our trial and temptations. Let’s now open our bibles to a passage dealing with the trials and temptations of believers.
1 Peter 1:6-9 - Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 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: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
The first truth we find in verse six, Peter is telling us that life is full of trials and temptations. All we have to do is look around and see that life is bombarded with all kinds of trials. What am I talking about? I am talking about things like sickness, ridicule, criticism, disease, abuse, loneliness, suffering, loss, emptiness, sorrow, disappointment. In fact the list can be so long that I would never be able to list them all. Am I right? Has any one here ever suffered any one of these things? Has anyone here ever been tempted? I am talking about being tempted to things like: greed, immorality, drugs, alcohol, envy, deceit, jealousy or uncleanness. The list of trials and temptations in the world are as unlimited as acts of behavior. For every act there can be the sin of too much or the sin of too little, the sins of commission or the sins of omission. Life is abundant with trials and temptations.
This is especially true with genuine believers, for believers to stand in opposition to the selfish, immoral, greedy, and lustful ways of the world. This goes against the grain of the world because the world is in opposition to God. All we have to do is look around to see that this is true Therefore, the world often persecutes believers who proclaim the need for man to turn to God. The world persecutes believers through ridicule, mockery, abuse, and perhaps the one that hurts the most is silence. Every genuine believer who lives for Christ is persecuted to some degree, no matter what society he lives. This was the case with the believers to whom Peter was writing. They were being severely persecuted because of their stand for Christ. They had been forced to flee for their lives and to leave everything behind. They were suffering trial after trial, experiencing what we see so often portrayed in the media: people flooding the roadways fleeing with whatever possessions they can carry by fleeing the tyranny of the persecution of dictators and evil men. Like I said before, the fact of trials and temptations is clear for all to see, we live in a world of trials and temptation.
But, two very important things are said here: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." In other words it is telling us that trials and temptations are only for a season; they are only for a little while, for a short time. The idea is that our salvation is at hand; we shall soon be delivered from the sufferings of this earth. The problem is that trials and temptations cause a heaviness within us.
They make us grieve, cause additional stress, pressure, and mental anguish. We all know what it is to feel heavy and weighed down with grief; to suffer stress and pressure; to be mentally in anguish, wondering, questioning, and suffering under the weight of a trial. As we walk throughout life, we are bombarded with all kinds of trials and temptations. Our human experience proves it. But why face it? Why think about it? Why not ignore the fact, think positively, and look at only the good and move on? There is one reason: facts cannot be handled unless they are dealt with. Ignoring and denying trial, and temptations will not conquer them, not permanently and not eternally. The only way we can ever conquer anything--no matter the trial or temptation--is to squarely face it and fight against it. What does Jesus say about this subject?
Revelations 2:9-10 - I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
This brings us to the second truth. When a believer is saved, why does God not just go ahead and give him a trouble-free, perfect life? Sometimes it would seem that God should do this. If God loves us and really cares for us then He should not let terrible things happen to us. Why does God let them happen? Why do the trials and temptations of life fall upon us, especially with such heaviness and sorrow? Scripture says there are two reasons why the believer is tried and tempted. Well, the answer to this one is very clear in verse seven; "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."
The believer's faith must be tried. Peter makes here a very interesting comparison, he compares us to gold. Does any one here know the process that gold has to undergo so that we may see it the way we see it now? Because after all, gold in the raw is not very pretty , it is just a shinny rock. Gold has to be put to the fire in order to clean out all the impurities and dross to make it pure and clean. Now note what this verse says: we are much more precious than gold. Gold perishes, but not believers. Believers are to live forever. Therefore, if gold has to be put to the fire to be made clean and pure, how much more do we? The point is striking: God uses the fire of trials and temptations for a good purpose. He uses them to make us clean and pure and to make us trust Him more and more. I have often said that we on many occasions make 911 calls to God, isn’t that correct? You see, when we are faced with some trial or temptation, we draw nearer to God. We cry out to God more than when things go well. We even tend to clean up our lives in order to secure His help us as we go through the trial. We just live more pure, clean, and righteous lives. In fact, the greater the trial and temptation, the more we see that we need God. And the more we see our need for God, the closer we usually draw to Him; and the closer we draw to Him, the cleaner we live.
The fire of trials causes us to live more pure and clean lives and to learn to trust God more and more. This is a most wonderful point: our trials and temptations are purposeful. God uses them to make us much more pure and to stir us to draw closer and closer to Him and to trust Him more and more. There is another fact that should be noted as well. When our faith is tried and proven, when we walk strongly through the trials and temptations of life, the world sees it.
They see the power of Christ in our lives and the rejoicing of our hearts in Him. Some are attracted and want to know Christ for themselves. Standing fast through the trials and temptations of life wins people to Christ. God uses the trials and sufferings of life to pour His strength into us and to attract the lost to want Him in their lives.
Our faith is tried in order to show forth the praise, honor, and glory of Jesus Christ and of the believer. When Jesus Christ appears, when He returns to earth, two things are going to be seen. First, Jesus Christ is going to be seen exalted higher than the heavens themselves; He is going to be seen in all the honor and glory of the universe. Second, believers are going to be seen exalted higher than anyone could ever ask or even think; they are going to be exalted in the very same honor and glory of Christ Himself, receiving all the inheritance that God Himself possesses. Just imagine! All the honor and glory that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself possesses shall be poured out upon believers. This is the reason God allows us to suffer trials and temptations on earth: not only to make us more pure and stronger, but to prepare us more for the honor and glory of heaven. The more we suffer here on earth, the more we ache for heaven. There is also the idea of vindication, of proving that the claims of Christ and of our faith in His claims are true. In that glorious day when Christ returns, the world of unbelievers, all of them, will see once for all that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God and that our faith in Him is real. Christ and His followers will be vindicated. Christ and all believers shall be exalted in the honor and glory of all the worlds and of all the dimensions of beings.
This brings us to the third truth, knowing how to conquer trials and temptations. The trials and temptations of life are not to defeat or discourage us. On the contrary, we are to conquer them. We are to use them as stepping stones to become stronger and stronger in life. But how? How can we conquer trials and temptations when they are so devastating, destructive, powerful, damaging, and threatening? Trials and temptations are to be conquered by our love for Jesus Christ. We do not see Christ, but we love Him. Let’s Think about it, we have transgressed God's law. We have ignored, neglected, and disobeyed God; rejected and cursed God. Therefore, we are guilty and must bear the judgment and condemnation. We must bear the punishment for our rebellion against God. But note the glorious love of Jesus Christ. He has stepped forward and offered Himself as a substitute and sacrifice for us. Jesus Christ has taken our guilt upon Himself. He has died for us; He has borne our judgment, condemnation, and punishment. No one could ever do any greater thing for us than what Jesus Christ has done. He has loved us supremely. Now, note what the verse eight says: we have not seen Him, but we love Him. We do not have to see Christ to stand up for Him and to please Him. We love Christ; therefore, we obey Him, keep His commandments, turn away from temptations and walk through trials. It is our love for Christ that stirs us to stand up for Christ against all the trials and temptations of life, no matter how severe and ferocious they are.
True love does all it can to keep from hurting the person loved. In fact, when we love someone, we do all we can to please that person, no matter what it may cost us, even if it costs us our life. So it is with our love for Christ. If we truly love Him, then we will never hurt or displease Him, not if we can help it. How do we overcome trials and temptations? First, we conquer them by our love for Christ.
To conclude, trials and temptations are to be conquered by rejoicing and by the unspeakable joy that fills our hearts. The unspeakable joy of Christ must always be present. Trials and temptations are to be conquered by keeping our eyes focused upon the salvation of our souls. This is the end, the very goal toward which we are moving, the salvation of our souls. As in any work or task, we must keep our eyes upon the goal. The more focused we are upon the goal, the stronger we become to stand against all obstacles. So it is with salvation. The more we focus upon the salvation of our souls, the stronger we become to reject and turn away from temptation and to conquer the trials of life.
Preached: July 30, 2000
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