True faith is indestructible. It is purified but not consumed by the fire of persecution. Times of hardship force us to rethink our motives and priorities, to rededicate our lives to the Lord Jesus, and to redouble our efforts to live for him with courage, holiness, and compassion. It destroys complacency and generates resolve to abandon personal comfort and security for the sake of the gospel, so that the faith of Jesus Christ may be established in the hearts of men.

False converts cannot endure, because they lack true faith. They are exposed, and fall by the wayside. This relieves the church of the burden of non-Christian infiltrators by cleansing the membership of hypocrites, and this reduces internal conflicts and improves its example before the world. The Bible teaches that a small impurity, a little trouble area, can spread and infect the entire congregation. And Paul cites the Law’s command to expel an evil person from the community. When the church fails to deal firmly with heretics and hypocrites, hardship can compel progress.

So much spiritual good has been produced by hardship that although our flesh cringes from it, some of us may wish for God to revive his people by it, even by sending extreme persecution instigated by political authorities. Those of us who do not wish for this may still wonder if that is what it takes to awake the church from its compromise, its impurity, its inaction, and its evident lack of commitment to the faith once for all set forth by the prophets and the apostles.

Even so, Paul shows us that a peaceful climate is more conducive to the propagation of the Christian faith, and that this should be what believers pray for and desire. True faith stands firm under pressure, but comfort and tranquility can also test a person’s character. The flesh senses no danger, but will the spirit then go to sleep? Scripture warns us to remain always alert, lest temptation overtakes us unawares. That said, there are obvious advantages to peace and quiet. A stable environment permits Christians to establish churches and seminaries, to marry and to raise children, and to pursue long-term projects that serve the interest of Christ’s kingdom. The freedom to study, to preach, and to worship is invaluable, and is the desire of all those who thirst for a deeper fellowship with God.

Government can make life easier or harder for Christians, and we are frequently disappointed by it. Its policies often restrict our freedom to preach and to worship, and its laws often fall short of upholding God’s moral commands. But God is in control of the government. The Bible says that he directs the heart of a king like a stream of water. He controls even the thoughts and decisions of the highest human powers. And through the apostle he instructs us to pray for all those who are in authority, in order that they might know and obey God, or if God’s will for them does not go this far, at least enact regulations that permit the safe and free practice of the Christian religion. This also reminds us to pray about the governments in other nations, so that they would not mistreat their people, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.