When I was a child, I remember my father telling people ‘he went through the school of hard knocks.’ Of course he was referring to how how life had taught him some lessons that he had learned the hard way. My father wanted me to do things differently. He wanted me to be educated. To honor his memory, I’ve spent many years of my life studying business and then theology. I’ve put my time in, studying and preparing for tests and exams; sometimes at the last minute, sometimes all night! I believe the Christian life is like a school which has a series of tests with Judgement day being the big final exam which will determine where and how we spend eternity!
I believe the first and most critical test we will face in life is how we have responded to the gospel. Our response determines everything. God will ask all of us on Judgement day, ‘how did you respond to my Son’s offer of salvation?!’ Jesus has paid for everything. He has done everything to secure our eternal salvation. Nothing other than faith in what He has done will qualify us! And really, there is nothing else we can do to add to what Christ has done. We have the job of allowing the Holy Spirit to change us, to yield to His transforming work. As far as getting into heaven goes, lets be clear, nothing else gets us there than the finished work of Christ.
As we live out our lives we face many challenges. Life is in many respects, a school of hard knocks; whether we are educated or not. It’s how we respond to those hard knocks that determines how we do in the school of life. It determines whether we pass the test. Don’t think for a moment when something happens to you God is not watching to see how you will respond! He wants you to look like Jesus more and more each day!
One of the greatest Pastors and Evangelists ever to come out of Africa, Benson Idahosa had a famous saying, ‘your attitude determines your altitude.’ As a child Benson was rejected by his father for being frail and sickly. He constantly had fainting spells, and during one of his spells, his mother Sarah, abandoned him at a rubbish heap, presuming him dead. Life continued to be difficult for him. However, in spite of all the difficulties he faced, he went on to serve God in the ministry. In his ministry he saw many incredible miracles, including seeing 28 people raised from the dead!
At the time of his death in 1988, he was reputed as having preached to more white people than any black man, and having preached to more black people than any white man!It is our attitude in tough times that God is watching. Think of the Israelites in the wilderness. It was their attitude which prevented many of them from entering the promised land. God was not pleased with their constant complaining after all he had done for them. We need the Holy Spirit to develop within us an attitude of gratitude!
It’s true, it is difficult when life gets tough not to complain. God is merciful and compassionate. He understands life can be very hard, but there is also an element within the plan of God, where he is looking to see Christ formed in us. He wants to see His children loving those that hate them, blessing those who curse them, praying for those that persecute them. He is looking for servant leaders, people who live for the glory of God and not just for themselves. He is looking for people that believe Him and bless Him in the hard times! People who aren’t overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good!
The Bible is clear that God does not tempt us, that we are responsible for our own sin, and the consequences of it. We can’t say God is testing us if we land in prison because of some poor decision we made. God may use that circumstance to change us but we can’t say He was responsible for it. However, for some of us, things happen in life and it’s not necessarily because of anything we have done wrong. Whether or not we can agree on whether these things are allowed by God, or designed by God, they do happen!
I want to spend a few moments considering the life of Joseph. This is a familiar story to many. As a boy Joseph had a dream of greatness. Out of jealousy his brothers sold him into slavery. Later he was thrown into prison on false charges. Finally he ended up where God told him he would be, second only to the greatest ruler in the known world!
Now let me say at this point, Joseph went through hardship, injustice, cruel treatment, betrayal, and yet wherever he was at in life, he rose to the top. He had a good attitude! And I believe the things he went through were tests, and by maintaining the right attitude, he passed them. The bible says in Psalm 105:17 “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.” Other translations renders it “the word of the Lord tested Joseph.”
The Hebrew word for tested is tsaraph (tsaw-raf’) which means “to fuse (metal), i.e. refine — cast, (re-)fine(-er), founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try.” Before God could fulfill the word of the Lord in Joesph’s life, his character had to match his calling. He needed to be refined by firey trials. And as believers, firey trials will come. As we go through them we need to allow the fire of the Holy Spirit to come, consume us, and cleanse us from everything that isn’t Christ-like. Jesus comes to us during these times as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirt and fire. The bibles tells us in Luke 3:17, He comes to “thoroughly purge and cleanse His threshing floor!”
Jesus does everything thoroughly and He won’t stop until his purifying work is done in your life! Gold is purified and made valuable because it goes through a firey purifying process. Diamonds are formed in high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. Fire and pressure are used by God to make you precious!The Apostle James said, “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3,4) James is saying we need to keep the right attitude, to rejoice, even when the circumstances are tough because God has plans to make us mature, to develop character within us.
God is working to test our character, our integrity, our obedience. Many things are tested over our lifetimes. Ultimately, with all these things, God is looking to make us better people, people who look like His son. When I worked in London, England I worked with some South Africans. They have a lot of sayings. But the one that always sticks in my mind is “if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you a better person!” Of course it was always said with a measure of humor, but the saying is true. Life’s tests are designed by God to make us better, to take us to greater places in God. Our tests can make us bitter, or they can make us better. It’s our choice. We can choose to complain, to hold hatred and bitterness in our hearts, or we can choose to love and forgive.
Joseph passed the intergrity test when he refused to lie with Potiphars wife. He passed the patience and long-suffering test with all the time he spent in slavery and prison. He passed the patience test when the butler and baker didn’t let Pharoah know about his dream. He allowed God to work in his circumstances to bring about His purposes. He passed the diligence test, being careful to work with excellence in all he did. He always rose to the top even as a slave and a prisoner! He passed the trusting God and faith in God test. He trusted that no matter how bad things got and how difficult they were, he knew that what others meant for evil God meant for good. He knew that a great test would result in a great testimony!
And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Joseph was superman. I’m sure as a human being he struggled with thoughts like, ‘what did I do to deserve this?’ or, ‘I can’t believe my brothers did that to me, my own family!’ or, ‘God are you out there somewhere?” Joseph was human just like any of us, but I believe he got on top of those thoughts and kept a good attitude. Like Paul and Silas who praised God in the prison cell, he kept a good attitude!
Joseph’s testing was for a great purpose. Joseph was a type of Christ. Christ came to suffer and to die, but it was God’s purpose to bring great deliverance to many. Joseph ultimately saved thousands of lives throughout his life, and Jesus brought salvation to the whole of the human race! Tests and trials come because God wants to change us from being self centered people, to people who are used by God to bring salvation and deliverance to others!
I want to challenge you today to lift up your head, square your shoulders, be determined to walk through the fire you are facing with integrity, with love and forgiveness. When you pass the test and God graduates you, not only will you be blessed, but many will be blessed by your life! It may even be painful at times, but remember God never allows anything to test us without a good purpose in mind.
I want to encourage you to hang in there. This test or trial won’t last forever. God may have sent you this test because He knew you would pass it! He has plans to bless you, and increase you, and bring you into all He has promised. Even if everything looks opposite right now, God has the ability to turn it all around overnight. Do yourself a favor. Allow God the Holy Spirit to refine you, to develop character within you, and do whatever He needs to do in you so you will pass the test! I know you can do it!
If you enjoyed this word of encouragement, please feel free to sign up for future words of encouragement and updates of our ministry endeavors, by joining our mailing list on the top right hand side of this page.
