Some years ago when the USA was on the Gold Standard there were Silver Dollars in circulation.

At the time counterfeit silver dollars were circulated that had an imitation metal coating and not true silver. 

Proprietors learned that if they showed up at the bank with a counterfeit silver dollar they were rejected and they were not a dollar.

They soon learned to test the silver dollars. 

They would throw the silver dollar on a side walk.

The true silver dollar would give off a special, joyful ring,that only silver could make.

An imitation that was silver plated made a dull thud sound. 

The counterfeit silver dollar may have had the appearance of a real silver dollar.

But it was worthless.

It had a silver coating over an inner core of metal that was next to worthless, a fake. 

It stands to reason that as a Christian-

I must pass the true test just as an authentic silver dollar. 

Do I have a layer of truth on the outside-

– while inside I’m a fake? 

When I am thrown to the ground with day to day adversity-

– do I make a joyful ring or a thud? 

Do I have a silver core that rings for everyone to hear while in church-

– and then while at work or in the world everyone hears a thud? 

My true test is what God hears-

– when I’m alone and in adversity. 

Do I praise my Creator for my situation?

– or do I chew God out because of my circumstances? 

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours” James 1:2.

(PA)