Precious Faith

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:1

I was reading 2 Peter yesterday and came across the word precious faith. I immediately flipped back to 1 Peter 1:7 which mentions that the trial of our 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.

It struck me then that my faith is a very important part of my life as it ought to be. This is rather obvious in the very meaning of precious. Precious means of a high price or of great value, but it can also mean beloved. From 1 Peter 1:7 we can conclude that the trial of our faith is worth more than gold. When compared with gold, it is has more worth and value and is esteemed higher. Why is the trial of our faith compared to gold? Because men have died for gold, they have sailed across the ocean to an untamed land in search of it. But God tells us that gold perishes. In other words, it can and it will come to ruin, just like any other earthly “treasures” (Psalm 49:16-17).

We are reminded that worldly treasures are corruptible but God tells us that our faith, though it be tested by fire, is incorruptible. We are also taught in James 1:3 that the trying of our faith works patience in our lives. This patience will then perfect us in making our faith entire, wanting nothing.

This, then, must be why our faith and the trying of it is so precious. Though we are complete in Christ we must always be growing and perfected. We realize that even if we loose everything we hold dear on earth our faith remains untouchable. Precious faith in Jesus Christ is incorruptible, eternal!