TESTS

Scripture:
Job 23:3-12:
3 "Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat ! 4 "I would present my case before Him And fill my mouth with arguments. 5 "I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would say to me. 6 "Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power ? No, surely He would pay attention to me. 7 "There the upright would reason with Him; And I would be delivered forever from my Judge. 8 "Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him. 10 "But He knows the way I take ; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 "My foot has held fast to His path ; I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12 "I have not departed from the command of His lips ; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.



TESTS!!! Ahhh, that word takes me back to school days. How about you? What emotions does that word “test” evoke in you?  Anxiety? Fear? The urge to vomit (ha ha, just kidding…at least I hope I’m not causing anyone to lose their breakfast!) Or, are you one who likes a challenge? Confident and prepared, eager to prove yourself? Or, maybe, you are one who just really does not care? “It will be what it will be.”

TESTS. Life is full of them. Some people may even feel life is one long continual test. Some tests are easy, the “open book” kind, or maybe the “group quiz.” Others are more demanding and lengthy, like semester finals, covering chapters and chapters of life. And then there’s the dreaded “pop quiz.” Oh how those can catch us off-guard, especially when we have dedicated our time to the wrong priorities and did not do our homework.

TESTS. Preparation is always the key. But how can we be prepared for every test life gives us? There is just SO MUCH material. Well, I believe the answer lies in the book of Job. Job was hit by every kind of calamity possible, testing him in every area of his life. The sections of his test were death (loss of children), financial disaster (loss of all he owned), and medical disaster (severe affliction of his body), among others. Even his three friends and wife were of no help in the “group” portion of the test.

So, what was Job’s secret? I would say it was his Teacher. Job was a man of God. He had a bond with the Father that no test could break. Because Job had dedicated his life to living by all he was taught, even in the midst of great pain and agony, he remained confident in what he knew from the Teacher to be the right answers to the test. He did not sin. He did not curse and blame the teacher. He stood firm. He passed the test with an A+++ and great was his reward! (Job 42:12: The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.)

But what I love about Job’s story is contained in the verses you read at the top of the page: Job wanted to talk to the Teacher about his test! Oh how many times have we done that? Maybe sought clarification to a question? Or help with a difficult problem? OR,  in steadfast belief that our answer was correct, to argue and present our case for the way we answered to the test! And that is where we find Job, seeking the Teacher, in Chapter 23. But guess what? The Teacher, in Job’s mind, has left the room! Now what? Here’s the cool part…even when he cannot find Him to present His case, Job trusts that God knows the way he takes and that when the test is over, Job will “come forth as gold.” YES!!!!

Girlfriends, what I want you to know today, whether you are in the middle of a test, just finished one, or preparing for the next, WITH GOD as your Teacher, you will PASS!!! Do not enroll in worldly classes, led by Satan and his legions of false teachers! Choose your schedule wisely; dedicate yourself to the coursework of the Bible. Do your homework; be prepared. My prayer for you is that with the Lord by your side, the next emotion evoked by the word “TEST” will be “BRING IT ON!!”
Love You All!