Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

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 1:3-9 NKJV. 

An anonymous prospector in Victoria, Australia has struck gold! Using a metal detector he has found two large gold nuggets only a foot or two below ground. He found a nine ounce gold nugget the first day, which at current gold price would be worth about $11,907. The second day, he returned to the same area, and found a huge nugget weighing 145 ounces worth $190,710. The first night he hid his big nugget in their oven, but it is now in a bank’s vault. The prospector said this about the find, “I had just unearthed a colossal gold nugget, a once in a lifetime find! I was in total disbelief as I didn't think nuggets of this size were still around.” He plans to use the money from the nuggets to buy a van and travel Australia with his family. (Yahoo News 08.24.16) 

When gold was struck in California in the 1850s, men and women from across the world poured into the area to prospect for gold. One of my ancestor’s relatives, we know from census records went to California during that time, but I have found no record of him after that time. It was a hazardous journey to California, and even more hazardous actually trying to live and work as a prospector. 

Gold is even more valuable today than it was in the 1850s with today’s price being $1393.90 per ounce. However, as valuable as gold may be, there is something far more valuable, far better than gold that we can obtain. The apostle Peter tells us that the “GENUINENESS of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes.” What is “genuineness”? Dictionary dot com defines genuineness as: “possessing the claimed or attributed character, quality, or origin; not counterfeit; authentic; real.” We can have faith that is genuine, which is better than gold. 

How do we know whether faith is genuine or not? In a way somewhat similar to gold being refined; when gold is refined the impurities are removed by fire leaving pure gold. We are told in 1 Peter 1:6, “though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.” I am continually amazed when I hear of friends who have had all kinds of terrible things happen to them and their families, that they continue to praise God, continue to serve God, continue to walk with their God through each day. I have no doubt that their faith is genuine, which has been proved by the fire of earthly trials which affect us here in this world. Peter says those whose faith is going through these earthly trials “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.” 

You don’t have to go to Australia, or California, or Colorado to find gold. The psalmist says, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver (Psalm 119:72).” Dig into the riches of God’s Word every day, and you will find genuine faith for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).”