Can we pass this test?

I have very fond memories of attending elementary school in Hickman, Kentucky.  In the late 1950s Hickman seemed to me like the town of Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show. We had barbershops, a Ten Cent store, as we called it, clothing stores, drug stores, hardware stores, jewelry stores, and many other stores.  We also had a bank downtown.  With mom and dad, my brothers and I would go to Hickman on Saturday night.  Mom and dad knew almost everyone.  The best part was most of the businesses, if not all, were locally owned.  It was such a peaceful place to go.  Sad to say, our children and grandchildren will never have memories like this.


Springtime at Hickman Elementary would usually signal achievement test coming soon.  Unannounced to us, I think it was Mr. McClellan who came to deliver the test to be given. (That was a long time ago and my memory may be a little foggy on this.) The only thing I liked about the test, was no homework.  The test always had a time limit for finishing each section.  I never liked any kind of test, especially those in college.


So, at a young age we were all exposed to some form of testing.  I did not mind taking a test, when I was fully prepared (very low percentage of the time). But the tests I most feared were those I knew going in the percentage of failing was much greater than my grade could possibly be.  Those are the ones that embedded into my subconscious mind a fear of testing. Even to this day at age 62, I still get butterflies when I have to take a test. The major testing I have undergone lately has not been taken with pen and paper.  I bet it is the same with some of you also.


When tested in this way, I go to an example in Genesis to give me hope and comfort.  Please get your Bible out and turn to Genesis 22.  I am going to pick out several verses for you to mark and meditate on after you read this post.  Verse 1 begins with the test of tests, which should make us all tremble.  It begins, Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, 'Abraham!'  And he said, 'Her I am.'  Then He said, Take your son, your only son Issac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.  The only way Abraham could have had a son with Sara, at such and old age, was from God.
What a wonderful gift.  I am reminded of Romans 8:28 and James 1:17.


Next, let's observe a pleasing faith in God by Abraham.  Abraham gives us a pattern to follow when the sacrifice seems too great to give.   Abraham rose early the next morning to obey God. He didn't procrastinate nor reason with himself about what he should do. (Genesis 22:3)


Abraham had faith God would handle it. He told the men with them to, stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go and we will come back to you. (Genesis 22:5)  He didn't know how, but he had the promises of God and knew somehow, they both would return.


Abraham and his son go up the mountain and when they came to the place, Abraham built an altar, bound his son, and was getting ready to sacrifice his only son whom he loved, and the Angel of the Lord stopped him.  Abraham looked up and tangled in the bushes was a ram provided by God for the sacrifice. (Genesis 22:6-14)  The result from the test of God was;  for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me. (Genesis 22:12)  Abraham then named the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide. (Genesis 22:14)


Abraham, a man of great faith, shows us what steps to take when God test us.  Hear and obey His command; do not procrastinate; get up early and go to your mountain; put God first and then receive His blessings.


Who was first in Abraham's life?  God knows all and He  knew Abraham loved Him more than he did his only son.  This proved to Abraham, you can put God first above all that you love and He will  greatly bless you.  What about Issac? He knew his father loved him very much, but to see his father's love for God surely must have impacted his life from that moment forward.


Abraham is mentioned among the faithful in Hebrews chapter 11.  Abraham was not selfish in his love for God. If I am selfish, God will never be first in my life. I will end up giving my time to my career, recreation, family, friends, and material blessings before I do to God.


Abraham, because he did not withhold his only son, received great blessings from God.  Did Abraham know God was going to bless him for obeying Him?   No. God told him after he had obeyed.  (Genesis 22:16-18)


I believe Satan has deceived us into believing this could only happen to those mentioned in the Bible of long ago. In Malachi 6 it reads, for I am the Lord, I do not change, and in Hebrews 13:8 the writer says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So if God showered great blessings on those in the past who placed him first in their everyday life, will He not do the same for us?


Above everything in our lives today, putting God first must be preceded by a great faith and trust in Him.  In the community where you live, can you imagine if everyone put God first in their lives. If everyone was willing to sacrifice self and put God first, how would your community look?  Maybe we never have seen this, because we have never before seen God being put first in the lives of such a group of people.


Think on this today. Now it came to pass that God tested ( your name).  I am glad blood sacrifices, as they were in the Old Testament, were nailed to the cross. We will not be tested to sacrifice our children in this way. But have I been tested to identify if God is first in my life?  Did I pass? What about you?  If we failed the test, a most beautiful trait shown by God is He lets us take it over.  Let us all read these scriptures daily, applying them to our Christian walk and we, like Abraham, can pass the test. ( Proverbs 5:3-4 and Matthew 22:37)


Thank you for reading my blog. Please email me with comments. I would like to get to know you. You can go to rhepler52@gmail.com.


Please go to www.amazon.com to preview and purchase my new book: 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours.  These are tips I have used and are still using.  This book is for all ages.




 Living the life of a faithful Christian will make us peculiar people. (Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9, KJV)




Thanks, Rick