Hard Won Treasures
While studying the books of Peter this week, I came across a scripture that I had underlined in a previous reading. It is 1 Peter 1:7, with a small preface from verse 6, which reads, “now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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:”. I didn’t remember why I had underlined it, but my impression this time was new and insightful. Perhaps the new thoughts came because I read these verses during a break while serving in the temple.
When trials of faith inevitably come our way, we have options on how we deal with them. We can ignore them and hope they will go away, become bitter in our suffering and lose faith, or accept them with hope in Christ. I am not sure that any of our afflictions are not trials of faith, so how we deal with them makes all the difference in the eventual outcomes.
As the scripture states that trials of faith can become more precious than “gold that perisheth”, is it possible that we should welcome challenges in hopes that there is an eternal treasure waiting for us in the end? It seems like a crazy idea because “easy” sounds much better than “hard”.
If you have ever admired the success, prestige, wealth, or accomplishments of others, you probably also recognize the hard work that goes into making those things happen. The same could be said about people who always seem to be happy, optimistic, kind, generous, and loving. If it is true that nothing of worth comes easily, perhaps it is time to roll up our sleeves and go to work.
Yesterday, I attended a funeral of an example of meeting trials with faith. My wife and I met Maria a couple of years ago at the assisted living facility where we serve on Sundays. While many of the residents have physical and mental challenges, Maria suffered more than most. She had very severe arthritis, which made it extremely difficult for her to do almost everything. Her daughter explained to us today that she had had five hip replacements, both knees replaced, and both ankles and wrists replaced. She called Maria the bionic woman. When I asked how long Maria had had arthritis, I learned it started in her mid-twenties. The remarkable thing about Maria is that we never heard her complain about anything. The funeral included speakers who attested to that fact and added that she was always serving others who were in need. Indeed, Maria became a treasure more precious than gold.
Perhaps what we can become when we meet trials with faith is the real treasure. When left unchallenged, we gain very little knowledge and experience nothing new. In short, we don’t change and fail to become who we could be. When we are thrust into eternity, we are ill-prepared for it if we leave mortality in a similar state as when we entered it.
There is no doubt that when we depart this mortal life, we can only take the knowledge and experience we have gained. All worldly accolades and achievements, along with our accumulated wealth, are left behind. The vast amounts of information and the technologies we use to manage it will instantly become obsolete. The treasures here will be of very little value in the nearly incomprehensible span of time we will exist.
So, is there value in obtaining temporal knowledge, or is it all meaningless? I do not believe it is without value in the sense that in the process of acquiring knowledge, we develop attributes that contribute to our overall character. However, some kinds of knowledge are not as valuable as others. The phrase found in 2 Timothy, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” comes to mind. This verse is part of a passage discussing the characteristics of people in the last days.
In navigating the trials and refining process, turning away from the fleeting distractions of social media to embrace the enduring truths found in scripture and profound literature prepares us for the glorious encounter with Christ. This intentional focus on timeless wisdom cultivates a resilient and purified faith. As we strive to align ourselves with these enduring principles, we become better equipped to stand in the presence of Christ’s glory, our spirits refined and hearts prepared to embrace the profound truths emanating from His divine presence.
In recognizing the transformative power of facing challenges, we learn to welcome adversity as a catalyst for personal growth. Maria, a cherished friend, exemplified that physical hardships need not diminish our capacity to contribute positively. Similarly, individuals confronting mental and emotional challenges with a resilient mindset can still enhance the well-being of others. Despite our unique struggles, there are always avenues to navigate through hardships. Even in our moments of perceived failure, we find solace in the understanding that the Savior of the world, who conquered all adversities, stands ready to support us. Just as He triumphed, so too can we, fortified by the enduring principles that guide our path toward a glorious encounter with Christ and the profound truths emanating from His divine presence.
As we emulate the Savior to our best ability, it is “found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”. I hope we can see our challenges in a new light and use them to our advantage both in our world and in the eternity to come.