Gold, a WORTHLESS substitute!

1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

These WORDs from the Apostle Peter, spoken 2000 years ago, resound even today in the ears of every true Believer in Christ, as a reminder of our HOPE in HIM who has POWER to save our souls from eternal separation from God's presence.

Why would someone with a past history of denial, have such a profound hope in someone other than himself?

Many of todays Believers in Christ may find themselves at a point in their walk of faith, much like Peter did!

Suffering grief and all kinds of trials in life, having placed their FAITH in their own power and wealth, refusing to humble themselves at the feet of Christ, who sacrificed HIS life, even to the point of resisting God's call to holiness and righteousness through Holy Spirit!

Some will even question the refining of our FAITH that Peter refers to in these verses.