“Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.” Deut. 8:2
Recently, we had an issue with one of our kids receiving a grade that this unnamed child was less than proud of. We addressed the issue, but the disappointment about the grade wasn’t getting better. I found myself saying, “Really, it’s just a grade.” It’s only a test.
Maybe in the big scheme of things that grade won’t alter the course of life, but the truth is, how we test is important. We are judged by the test. You could show up to class every day. You could read all your assignments and even participate in class, but at the end, you will be judged by the test. Whether it’s the SAT, a driver’s exam or State Boards, we are all judged by the test.
Life is like that too. How you respond to the circumstances of your life is your test.
We will be tested by God.
These problems that you are facing today. They are a test. God wants to see what you are made of.
God tested Abraham’s faith. Gen. 22:1
God asked Abraham to give up his only son. He wanted to see how Abraham would respond. God wants to see how you are going to respond to the illness that you are facing, your financial problems or the unfair circumstances of your life. He wants to see how I will handle the death of my child. This is my test.
Will we face our test with selfishness, pride or mistrust? Or will we handle it like Abraham did? Will we trust that no matter what the Lord will provide (Gen. 22:14)?
Sometimes I think we read the stories in the scripture and think, “Wow, Abraham was so faithful. I’m glad God doesn’t ask us to do that stuff today.”
Friend, our unchanging God (Jm. 1:17) is still in the business of testing his people. He still wants to see what we are made of. He wants to know if we really love him, if we really trust him, if we will really follow him where ever he leads. He just may turn our lives upside down to see if we will hold on or if we will let go of him.
We must test ourselves.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Cor. 13:5
On the other side of test we learn something about ourselves. Did we have what it takes? Do I have what it takes or is my faith talk just that- talk?
Here’s where it gets good. On my own I will fail my test every time. Every. Time. That part about Christ Jesus in you- that’s where it’s at. Without Jesus in me I would have already failed the test I am in.
Because Jesus Christ lives in me, he intercedes for me. He takes my test. With him, I can ace this test of life. Victory is mine. Every. Time. (Rom. 8).
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Rom. 8: 35-37
Now go! Live in your victory. Live in Jesus.
