If you attended school, you probably have had a quite a few tests, maybe even thousands of tests. If so, then you realize that they are not all the same. A test might query your reasoning power, deductive power, memory recall, writing ability. It may be fair or unfair (remember tests with those tricky questions?). And over the years, you may have even had a few of these "gift" tests. However, it has been my experience that these are very rare indeed. After all, Christmas comes but once a year!!! The following are 10 tests found in the Scriptures....
Commitment test
Exodus, Chapter 16 (WEB)
1 They took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 2 The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; 3 and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
4 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.
What is the root of complaining? Is it not a lack of trust? And if all you are given all you really need, will you still complain? This is a test...
Rebellion test
Exodus, Chapter 17 (WEB)
1 All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to Yahweh’s commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”
3 The people were thirsty for water there; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”
4 Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
5 Yahweh said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”
If someone continues to complain, even after your request of God is met; ask yourself- who or what is really your GOD?
Re-test
Judges, Chapter 7 (WEB)
1 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod: and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2 Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” Twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.
4 Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that of whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”
Pride is an insidious sin. There was a second test of the people in order that there would be no doubt as to who would be victorious, man or God. And I wonder... what did the people who were chosen think???
Refinement test
Zechariah, Chapter 13 (WEB)
8 It shall happen that in all the land,” says Yahweh,
“two parts in it will be cut off and die;
but the third will be left in it.
“two parts in it will be cut off and die;
but the third will be left in it.
and will refine them as silver is refined,
and will test them like gold is tested.
They will call on my name, and I will hear them.
I will say, ‘It is my people;’
and they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’”
Question- Do you really love God; or is your love a sham? Sometimes a test is given to you to really, really determine the question, once and for all.
Test of honesty
Malachi, Chapter 3 (WEB)
8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for.
God is faithful, but am I? God wants to bless us, but will I listen?
Test of interpretation
Matthew, Chapter 4 (WEB)
5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and,
‘On their hands they will bear you up,so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”
Both Jesus and the Devil knew the Scriptures and their proper application. But, an evil heart will misuse truth every time. Seek the truth and consider what is said, and let the Scripture speak for itself.
Test of works
1 Corinthians, Chapter 3 (WEB)
12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; 13 each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. 14 If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
What we do is a sure indicator of who we are. Consider what is built on your foundation, and for that matter, what foundation are you using? Remember the wise and the foolish men of Matthew, Chapter 7?
Test of sin
2 Corinthians, Chapter 13 (WEB)
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare; 3 seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. 4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you. 5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.
7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting. 10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
Once your sin has been revealed to you; what do you do with that knowledge? Do you ignore it or eradicate it? Test yourself and know?
Test of trials
1 Peter, Chapter 4 (WEB)
12 Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. 13 But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.
If you are a Christian; you will experience opposition;perhaps strong opposition or even persecution. Remember who you are- Christ's!!!
Test of teaching
1 John, Chapter 4 (WEB)
1 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.
Sound doctrine is not necessarily an easy thing to obtain, but it is worth it. In this case, some were teaching that Jesus was not really a man (in the flesh) but a spirit and this is wrong. Examine what you are taught and judge it by what the Bible plainly teaches. Do not let people trick you!!!
God sometimes works in mysterious ways, so the above is absolutely NOT comprehensive, but enough to at least see how HE tests. If you wish to pass God's scrutiny, look to The Bible for directions and follow the example of Jesus. And remember God's grace and mercy have a huge impact on whether you enter heaven or not. The test in the picture was a Christmas gift and so was Jesus!!!