Passing the Test
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways than our ways. Tests in this life are inevitable. A test is to put through a critical examination, observation, or evaluation to determine what is true, present, and real. A trial is given to diagnose. When we put our hands to the plow as fellow laborers with our Lord, the tests of faith will reveal his truth in us. At times we may not understand the purpose of the test. Jesus himself faced a tough test in the garden of Gethsemane. He asked his father to remove the “cup” of separation, sin and death. However God answered three times, “no.” Jesus came to the conclusion, “Not my will but thine be done.” Hebrews 2:12 reveals the answer to Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus aligned his will with his Father’s will… He endured the cross with joy for your salvation and mine.
According to Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Jesus once marveled at the faith of the Roman centurion who believed for his daughter’s healing, Jesus said, “I have seen no greater faith, no not in Israel.” God’s “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11 exemplifies believers who passed the tests.
Jesus said in John 14, “I am the vine, ye are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing.” Without our Lord we cannot survive the slings, arrows, and fiery darts of the “wicked one.” Even though we may not understand the purpose of God’s test, we can trust God’s heart.
Les Pearcy of Bakersfield who played ball with Pete said, “the worst year of my baseball career was my best year with my Lord.” During times of trial, God will teach us that “this is our finest hour.” The true purpose of life will be revealed through the trials of life. If power, success, fame, reputation, and wealth are our goal, they will take wings and fly away. The test will reveal that which we value in life.
When Paul asked God to remove his “thorn in the flesh” God answered “no” three times. The third time God answered Pauls prayer when Paul understood that “thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me.”
When God led Israel to the promised land, there were “Giants in the land.” Ten of Israel’s twelve spies said, they are too big for us and we can’t fight them. However, Joshua and Caleb said that we can defeat them in God’s power.
In Numbers 13, God placed the Giants in the land to test Israel. God tested Israel because he had their best interest at heart. Israel also tested God, thinking that they had their own best interest at heart. They resisted God and submitted unto their own will. They disagreed with the definition of “Israel’s best interest.” Our trial, like Israel is to subject our will to his will… That we come to the conclusion that “father knows best.”
According to Genesis 22:1, God tested Abraham. The Hebrew root word for “test” is the word, “smell.” God needed to find out if Abraham would pass the “smell test.” God wanted to know “Abraham, where’s your heart?” Do you love me above all? Do you believe that Isaac is indeed the promised seed through whom I will keep my promise of the coming Messiah?”
Often God will allow the enemy to overcome his people when they turn their backs on God. This is the theme of the Old Testament book of Habakuk. When things are dark and there seems no escape, God will make a way when there is no way. God never honors fear but he always honors faith. He is faithful to his word. He is a God of mercy and grace.
God intends for us to spend our time in this fallen world to prepare our hearts for our homeland in heaven. According to Hebrews 11, Abraham lived by faith in foreign land, because he was looking toward a city whose architect and builder was God. As Paul said, I count the suffering of this present time of little value in light of the value of God’s eternity: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
The theme of Hebrews 11 is, “have I put down roots in this world, or am I living for eternity in my heavenly homeland.” Suzan said before she died, “I don’t fit here anymore.” The hall of faith believers received the promises of God knowing that they were exiles in this world. They longed for heaven. They desired a better country that God had prepared for them in eternity.
As the song says, “This world is not our home, we’re just a-passing through; Our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.” At the end of our life in this “foreign land,” we live to hear our Father say, “well done thou good and faithful servant: …enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael