Those of you who have read my profile will know that I used to be a secondary school teacher, teaching maths and IT. Testing was a regular part of that life - for the pupils, not me. Why did I test? One reason was to focus the pupils to actually do some work and review and revise the material of the last few weeks and make sure they understood it and could apply it. When this is done enough something should begin to stick. [I am still surprised at some of things I can still remember from school, even from my least favourite subjects such as English lit.] Another reason for testing, particularly as the pupils got towards the top end of the school, was to prepare them for the GCSE or A level exams. It was my practice to make my tests harder than the 'real thing' so that the pupils would be fully prepared for those exams.
But there are few people who enjoy tests. This Sunday we're looking at Genesis 22, the passage where God tests Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his loved son Isaac. As I have been thinking about this subject there is a sense in which we are tested whenever God asks us to do something - will we obey or not? Ultimately this reveals the answer to the question, 'Do you truly love me more than these?' John 14 makes the link between love and obedience explicit: 'anyone who loves me will obey my teaching', (23) for example.
But why does God test us? Surely He knows the answer to those questions already, without the need to prove it. There are several answers to that question and we won't look at them all now. But here are two. You may have others that you want to add.
1) To encourage us! It is always an encouragement to pass a test. When we have come through a difficult situation our faith is strengthened and we are reminded again of the faithfulness of our God. Through the test we are often reminded of our reliance on God, our prayers are more urgent, and God proves again that He can be trusted.
2) To prepare us. God is not the only one who is going to test our faith. We have an enemy who will do that at every opportunity. Temptations will cross our path. We will find ourselves in situations where we ask, 'where is God in all this?' Think of the story of Job for example. The devil's charge against Job was that if all his worldly comforts were removed he would no longer acknowledge or worship God. But God doesn't want us to go into such a test unprepared. So He prepares us in advance so that we will stand through all such tests.
At school pupils endure tests because they have to. But those who go on into further education put themselves through the ordeal because they want to gain something - A levels, degree, other qualifications. As we go through tests in this life we endure the hardship because we know that the prize at the end is worth all the struggle now (e.g. Romans 8:18).
Grab a coffee and join in the conversation. Share your experiences. Ask your questions.
Listen to this message by Pastor Keith on 30 September 2007.
