p. 54 | Fiery Trials by A. Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 28, 1873

Fiery Trials.

By A. Smith

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you.”—1 Pet. 4:12.

God has ordained that through much tribulation we shall enter his kingdom. Having sinned, it is best that we should taste some of its bitter fruits, that we may learn to highly prize the redemption purchased for us through Christ. Lest the dangers in anticipation should appall us, we are cited to those who have gone before us, as examples of suffering affliction and patience, and discover that in no instance have the promises of God failed to those who have complied with their conditions.

Of Jacob, the Lord has said, I have “chosen him in the furnace of affliction;” of Christ, “he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver;” and of his own work in redemption, “I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.”

Has the reader suffered the loss of children, the infidelity of a companion, or the loss of property? Job was deprived of all these at one fell stroke; and while you weep in remembrance of your grief, copy his language of holy resignation, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Do you suffer bodily pain? and do friends reproach you? read his words of burning eloquence, when all earthly hope had failed: “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”

Do you feel that you are a stranger here? and do you suffer persecution for Christ’s sake? Study the history of those who, for truth’s sake, suffered trial of cruel mocking and scourging; suffered bonds and imprisonments; were tempted, tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. The Captain of our salvation is not one who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities—he drank the bitter cup of human woe; he bore our sicknesses; he suffered our reproach. “When he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not.” “If they have persecuted me,” said he, “they will also persecute you.” “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name’s sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven.”—JESUS. “But my trials,” say you, “are of such an ordinary character, that I cannot claim the promise in the text.” Behold, in this, the work of a cunning enemy. He dare not attack you openly; for he knows that you would be prepared to meet him; but he makes use of trivial circumstances to torment you, and you know it not. Every one of these afflictions may be sanctified to your good.

Fiery trial! We draw back, instinctively, from the flame; but faith will reveal to us the form of the fourth, like unto the Son of God, walking with us in the fire. When sanctified, they prove to be light afflictions after all, being finally exchangeable for an eternal weight of glory. The scope of our mental vision is too circumscribed to comprehend the glory of Heaven. Enough that God has promised it, and that our redemption draws near.

“I’m willing to be cleansed, And bear the daily cross: I’m willing to be purged From every kind of dross. I see the fiery furnace, And feel its cleansing flame; The fruit of it is holy, The gold will still remain.”

A. SMITH.