Today's Word

Today's WordSaturday, October 4, 2008
Proof of Life
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked Psalm 11:5
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Tests – I don’t know about you, but I have enough to deal with in life without God adding a few tests here and there. You would think that if God really loves us, He would remove all those trials, not add to them. Yes, I know. We all rationalize life’s difficulties by saying that they are tests of faith, but do we really know why God tests us? A look at this Hebrew word shows us something we may not have seen before.The word is bachan. In Hebrew is refers to any kind of test from tasting food (Job 12:11) to testing loyalty (Genesis 42:15). It’s used to describe refining metals (Zechariah 13:9) but most of the time it is used of God’s testing men and women. Let’s look a little deeper to see what this word involves. The pictograph of this word (the consonants Bet-Chet-Nun) shows us “something that separates life.” It’s a picture of being inside a fence that surrounds life. In other words, the “test” really establishes a border (a fence) that protects the life that is inside. It separates what is deadly from what is nourishing. A test is a shield against what would destroy, not an examination of quality. Even when the word is applied to refining metals, the idea is removing what destroys the purity of gold or silver. That’s what God’s tests do for us. Each one is designed to protect us from harm by removing what will corrupt and destroy the life God has given. No wonder James tells us to rejoice when we have trials and tests. Each one is life insurance.So, what do God’s tests look like? Just like life insurance policies, tests come in all shapes and sizes. And just like life insurance policies, they all have one thing in common. They are always about trusting Him. From the simplest suggestion to the greatest trial, God’s tests are designed to lead us toward greater trust. Why? Because trust is the absolute foundation of our relationship with God. Where there is little trust, the relationship is weak. Where there is no trust, the relationship doesn’t exist. Oh, yes, by the way, trust is a verb, not a noun. It can only be seen in action, not in creeds or doctrines. If I trust God, it will show in my behavior. If it doesn’t show in the way I act, then I don’t trust Him no matter what I say.Because the issue of trust is at the heart of these tests, the examinations are tailored to each one of us. You might find yourself tested over something almost unnoticeable, like the humility needed to accept criticism from your spouse without attempting to justify yourself. Or you might find yourself in a major faith challenge. My guess is that there are a lot more tiny tests than we recognize. As God raises our awareness, we find that He is putting up fences all around us. All we have to do is step inside and close the gate.In the final analysis, God is interested in proof of life. Since life is only in Him, tests determine the quality of life we have under His care. He wants us to enjoy that maximum living relationship that we can have. To help us get to that place, He provides fences and gates. They are for our protection, not for His analysis. God already knows what our trust level is, but He also knows what it could be if we just step inside the fence. Maybe tests aren’t so bad after all.Topical Index: Safety
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Skip Moen www.atgodstable.com