The Test
A test becomes The TEST
This morning, as a did my usual review of facebook, I came upon a test. It was one that was purported to be able to predict whether or not I would live another five years. When the results said that I would be around for that amount of time, I wasn't as happy as I thought I might be. Something bothered me. Then, I remembered the Scriptures....
James, Chapter 4 (WEB)
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” 14 Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.”
Conclusion: The earthy test had been a waste of time, because although statistically it might be valid, in reality, its up to God how long I have upon the earth.
After a bit, it occurred to me that all of life is a test, both of the physical AND the spiritual. The physical is obvious to us all, but what about the SPIRITUAL TEST THAT IS FROM GOD????
I won't take The TEST, right NOW...
Acts, Chapter 24 (WEB)
22 But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him. 24 But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”
Felix thought he could put off a decision about Jesus, and he could for awhile. But with each an every day, he came closer to his own death. Sooner or later, we all must die.
Conclusion: Why put off the inevitable? Come to grips with reality, and do it NOW!!!!
I won't BELIEVE The TEST, NO MATTER WHAT!!!!
Romans, Chapter 1 (WEB)
13 Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. 17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. 21 Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.
Luke, Chapter 14 (WEB)
16 But he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people. 17 He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ 18 They all as one began to make excuses.
“The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.’
Some people will just not believe in God- NO MATTER WHAT!!! Instead they will reason within themselves and deny the evidence and rationalize until they become "hardened of heart" and make up something that pleases and eases their conscience (if any remains). Therefore, they become their own god, because they put their will above the creator of all things!!!
Conclusion: Stop with the excuses, already!!! God is God and you will never become equal to him!!! Stop trying to do this- seek HIM with a submissive attitude, and do it NOW!!!
I will try to pass The TEST!!!!
Romans, Chapter 6 (WEB)
12 Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! 16 Don’t you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered. 18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
Acts, Chapter 17 (WEB)
10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.
The difference between the sinner and the saint is a matter of heart, mind and action. A saint is simply a person who has been made right with God by the sacrifice of Jesus in his stead. Be one!!!
Conclusion: Be a person with the right attitude towards God, study the Scriptures and do what God wants you to do to be right- and do it NOW!!!
Show me The TEST; I want to take it now!!!
Matthew, Chapter 16 (WEB)
13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
Acts, Chapter 2 (WEB)
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Two passages, one common problem: Jesus!!! Sooner or later, we all will have to take The Test of what we will do about HIM!!!
Conclusion: Jesus is both Lord and Christ- Believe it, because its true!!! Get right with HIM as soon as possible- your Spiritual well being depends upon it!!!
NOW, BEGIN!!!...