I Peter 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 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:
Peter had walked with Christ. He had at times shown moments of great faith followed by moments in the which his pride stood in the way. His zeal would cause him to declare that he would never allow Christ to die; yet, when the courts were being held against Christ–in fear he denied Christ three times. He had only hours before declared that he would die with Christ and now he had failed to stand by Christ through the most agonizing moments of Christ’s life. I am certain that suddenly as all pride drained from Peter and he became overwhelmed with the guilt and the knowledge that he was a failure; he became so certain that Christ would never be able to use him again. Why would Christ use someone whose faith was so poor and who always seemed to get it wrong? Christ realized the agony that Peter was about to enter and Christ knew that the only hope for Peter and for all the world was to become reality as He took their sins, their selfish pride, their unbelief, and their guilt with Him to the cross; where He would pay the penalty for their sin. Justice demanded that the price for sin be paid so that the relationship between perfect righteousness and sinful man be redeemed for all who would believe and accept the gift of salvation. The price was paid on Calvary as Christ was thrust into hell and separation from God the Father and Holy Spirit for three days. On the third day, Christ rose from the grave–the payment was accepted as payment in full for all who would believe. When he had risen, Christ told them to go and tell his apostles and Peter of His resurrection. What amazing grace! Peter was ecstatic that Christ was risen and that all the prophecies were fulfilled; yet, Peter did not believe that God could use a failure like himself and he returned to fishing. Christ came to the shore, the same shore where Peter had first met Christ; to restore Peter into the ministry. Peter had never been rejected, only Peter didn’t know that at first. It was only now that Peter was ready to be the preacher that Christ could use. Stripped of all self pride; now, Peter was ready to be used by Christ and mirror the reflection of Christ to the world. The light of God’s Grace and Glory could now be shone off a mirror polished and empty. A mirror must reflect and does not have it’s own light (rather it is devoid of it’s own self). Now with all that in mind, reread the passage of scripture above. Imagine the passion within the heart of God’s servant Peter. Hope, Faith, Rejoicing are his words. He even rejoiced in the trials and the agonies that he had endured through the trying of his faith; for now he understood that the most precious treasure was the relationship he had with Christ Jesus. He understood that there was no pain too great to suffer on this earth for the eternal salvation of one soul. He now knew that the only work which mattered in the kingdom was that work performed through Christ’s power in his life and that his only place was to empty himself of his own desires and hope of self exaltation so that Christ’s Glory might be reflected off the mirror of his life. He could now lay down all searches for counterfeit joys on this earth for the wondrous Joy of Knowing Christ. His relationship with God became his greatest treasure for which he was truly willing to sacrifice it all. Now his heart meant what his words had vainly spoken before.