Embracing the Trial

Two houses. They both look alike. They both are built from the same materials. Which one is well built and which one is not? Which one has a good foundation and which one does not? Which builder was wise and which one was not? By just looking at them from the outside, there is no way to tell. Months and years go by and they both persist. As far as anyone from the outside can tell they are both the same.

But eventually the test comes in the form of a storm, and the test reveals the truth.

Two men. They both look alike. They are both built from the same materials. Which one is well built and which one is not? Which one has a good foundation and which one does not. Which builder was wise and which one was not? By just looking at them from the outside, there is no way to tell. Months and years go by and they both persist. As far as anyone from the outside can tell they are both the same.

But eventually the test comes in the form of a storm - a trial. And the test reveals the truth.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” - Matthew 7:24-27

How do we know our faith is real? Testing and trials prove our faith. Look at the following well known verse:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." - James 1:2-3

The word 'testing' used here is the Greek work 'dokimion', which means "a test by which anything is proven". This test James is talking about is specifically for the purpose of proving our faith is real and true.

So who does it prove it to? Not to God. He already knows whether our faith is true or not. It proves it to us - to ourselves. When we experience a test of our faith and come through to the other side with that faith intact, it is a proof to us that our faith is real. That is why James can say "consider it pure joy" - because pure joy can only come from 'knowing' that you are truly a child of God. In fact, the word 'knowing' used in that same verse is the Greek word 'ginosko', which carries the idea of having a full understanding of something beyond just having the facts, an understanding or knowledge which comes from experience.

It's in our nature to abhor suffering and trials. We want to be comfortable. If we have a headache, we take an aspirin. If we have a pain, we go to the doctor. If we experience a trial, we want to get out of it as quickly and as easily as we can. That's just who we are. But trials and tests also have another side. When we only look at testing from a worldly view, they are bad and to be avoided at all costs. But when we look at them from an eternal viewpoint, we can see them for what they are - a proof of true faith in Christ.

"That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." - 1Peter 1:7