Tested and Blessed

You have 100% attendance for your classes. You’ve learnt your lessons. You even stand a chance of being the gold medallist. But, if you don’t appear for the exams, there’s no way you can even earn your degree. Without clearing your exams, you can’t move on to the next class. Neither can we mature in life unless we clear ‘tests’.

I believe God uses trials and tests as a means to bless us. That’s what we read in James 1:12. It says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”

Need an example? Read Job 1:8. Note that Satan did not come up with the idea and ask for God’s approval. God offers the suggestion. Why not Job? Soon, Job lost all that he could – wealth, health, children, true friends, and loved ones. He really had a hard time. It’s scary to even imagine ourselves in his shoes. But wait, the story didn’t end there! God blessed the later part of his life more than the first (Job 42:10-16). When God handed all of Job’s possessions over to Satan (Job 1:12), and when Satan decided to do the best job with what God just handed over to him, Satan perhaps had no clue of what is to come. But God had this later part is mind when he asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Job seems to have got this right when he said, "when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10) You have seen Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. (James 5:11)

Abraham also had to pass his test before he could be credited as the ‘father of faith’. His test? He had to lay down his only son, the one he loved (Gen 22:1, 2). He was willing to do that, just because of his simple trust and obedience. And the result? First, his son was saved. (Gen 22: 12) Then, his blessings confirmed. (Gen 22: 16, 17)

If you are going through trials and tests – which I am sure you are or you will – that’s just one more reason to rejoice! (James 1:2 – 4) If you are tested, you are going to be blessed. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed." (I Peter 1:6,7)