The sweat forms on your
brow, anxiety sets in as the professor hands out the test. You have spent
weeks in the classroom listening, nodding as it all seemed to make sense.
But now you are being tested, and your true knowledge is about to be
revealed.
For years you
have gone to church with Mom and Dad, said amen’s, and sang songs praising
God. Will you be the only one who wants to keep your faith in college,
will it be as easy as confessing your faith in a pew surrounded by fellow
believers, or will it be harder? The real world is harsh and your faith
will be tested. This is what your pastor has been preaching about all
your life, it is time to test your faith.
Months and even years
can go by of running mile after mile, day after day. For most athletes,
conference is the biggest meet of the year, the chance to qualify to extend the
season and show their hard work has been worth it. Any runner can brag
about splits in workouts, but it's what happens in the race that counts. All
those miles come down to just one race.
The professor does not
see a test as punishment, but instead a reward for growth, proof that the
students are learning and ready for bigger things.
As much as a pastor
enjoys being with his congregation, he will truly smile to see them out in the
world spreading the good news in the midst of adversity.
A coach knows that it is in the race that his
runners will either succeed and reach their goals, or if not, that they will
learn from falling short.
1 Peter 1: 6-7
6 In all this you greatly rejoice,though now for
a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These
have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than
gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may result in praise, glory
and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
It's easy to brag about
how smart we are, but until we are tested we really do not know our
potential. If at the first chance of temptation you cave to peer
pressure, how strong is your faith? One can lead every workout, but until
the athlete leads his team in a race, what has he accomplished? The
journey will not always be easy, but it's not supposed to be easy.
Throughout the Bible, God tests his followers again and again. Before
moving forward one must first be tested and pass. Stop looking for cheat
sheets, short cuts, other Christians to lead you, or excuses for a bad race.
When you fail, you will grow and be more prepared to take the test again,
and when you succeed the hard work and failures will be worth it.
