Tests

I have never been afraid of tests, but I’m not a fan of them either. Tests seem to have a pass or fail side to them. If I’m taking a test for a class and I need to score a 90 or above, that is a lot of pressure. I need to know my stuff. Some tests are simply you passed or your failed. There is still always a measurement when a test is administered.

I also think life is full of tests. In fact, I think that a normal ordinary day is sprinkled with tests. There are honesty tests. There are integrity tests. There are friendship tests. There are profession tests. The Lord even uses tests.  As I’ve begun Job, there was one test when Job lost everything, including his children, but he didn’t curse God. A second test is coming. Check this out…

³ Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”

⁴ Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. ⁵ But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

⁶ “All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.” ⁷ So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot. (Job 2:3-7 NLT)

I will admit that when something bad happens to me, I might reach out to the Lord and ask “Why?” or “Why me?”.  I guess that I want only good things to happen to me, nothing hard. I am impressed with Job as he remains steady and consistent as he navigates the test and the pain it brings with it. His wife even challenges him. Check this out…

⁸ Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. ⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

¹⁰ But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. (Job 2:8-10 NLT)

I believe that tests are a part of my journey here on earth. I don’t necessarily believe that all tests are from the Lord, but He does allow me to be tested. Tests produce growth. Temptation on the other hand, is not from God. It is from “the accuser” (aka Satan). He wants to see me fail miserably. He wants to see me stop following the Lord. He wants to destroy my faith in God. When I yield to temptation, it really harms my relationship with the Lord. He forgives and His grace is enough, but there are times the consequences of my yielding to sin lasts for years.

I want to become a good test taker. I want to recognize a test when I’m in the middle of it. I want to trust the Lord no matter what I face. I want to trust the Lord with my family. I want to trust the Lord with my health. I want to trust the Lord with my relationships. I want to trust the Lord with my work.  I want to walk with Him through any test and any temptation and pass with integrity ,honor and obedience.

Pressing On!

Dwayne