True Faith Remains - 1 Peter 1:6-9

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 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, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:6-9

    Our lives witness many trials, Some we barely escape, others force us to hold onto the moorings of our persistent and trustworthy true faith in God to get through them. These are the trials I address in this post.
    The death of a loved one, a parent, a spouse, a child, a dear friend. These are experiences that test even the strongest faith. When the dead are buried, true faith remains!
    National tragedies like 911, Columbine, or Newtown test the strength of our true faith. But think of faith as “knowledge.” We know the sun rises every morning. Some days there are clouds but we still know that the sun is rising on the other side of that obscurity. Even on the cloudiest of days, true faith remains!
     “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” - 1 John 5:4-5. The victory that overcomes the world is true faith; faith in God. We face a myriad of worldly obstacles on a daily basis. Some are minor irritations while others may mean life or death for us or our loved ones. Such is the nature of the modern world, a world steeped in wickedness and depravity. What greater weapon do we have against such utter destruction and perdition than our true faith in God?
    “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” - 1 Timothy 6:12. We are tested by the Great Deceiver, Satan, on a daily basis. Each day he throws his worst at us trying desperately to bring us down into smoke and ruin. To deny his presence in our lives is to place ourselves in denial and denial leads to corruption. We must fight the wiles and the methods of the devil if we are to stand strong in true faith.  “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one”.
 - Ephesians 6:14-16.
    No matter what we face in our lives; no matter what fears or realities we are forced to deal with, true faith will bring us through it. We may not come through unscathed . . . but we will come through to the glory of God which most assuredly awaits us on the other side. “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” - Psalm 62:8.  In the face of our worst trials we must always remember - true faith remains!