October 25

Written by Bill Grandi on October 25th, 2021

I know very few people who like tests. I have a daughter who didn’t do very well with tests. We found that out early on thanks to a teacher. Call it a worksheet on a Tuesday and she “Aced” it. Call that same worksheet a test on Wednesday and she barely passed.

I can understand that. In high school I didn’t really care. In college I did. I found out in my high school Spanish class I could do fairly well in class. A test? Not so. In Geometry and Trig I could do okay in class and even as I studied. A test? How many ways can you say, “Bomb”? In college, I did okay with Greek class. I knew the words. I knew the synonyms and antonyms. In class. But give me a test? Bombs away!

Life is full of tests. Some I have passed; some I have failed. Some I have passed with flying colors; some not so. Some I was the poster child for steadfastness and faithfulness and trust; some for negativity and wishy-washedness and failure.

I’m thinking this morning of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham failed a few times along the way, but this would be his ultimate test.  Pass or fail? Stand  tall or bite the dust? Trust or waver? Genesis 22 tells us he passed. As did Isaac.

It isn’t easy when being tested. Choosing the hard way sometimes is a challenge. Choosing to trust is sometimes a real chore. Choosing to stay the course and to trust is sometimes next to impossible.

But stay I/we should. The reward is phenomenal!

“Father, may I stand firm in spite of the test. May I choose to remain steadfast and follow Your path.”

 

6 Comments so far ↓

  1. Ryan S says:

    As you show, tests come in all shapes and sizes. Some are mere hurdles to leap, while some are mountains to climb. Some can be completed in seconds, minutes, or hours… Some may take months, years, or even a lifetime… Some will be passed with flying colors, some we may only pass by the skin of our teeth, some may require a retest or perhaps even a failing grade. Thankfully, there is one test that only needs our name on the exam… and it is the one test that really matters…

  2. I was such a nerd at school, Bill, and studied until my head felt like it would explode. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than failing a test.
    Now, years later, I realize that there are many greater and scarier things that will test us in our hearts, minds and souls. It is only with God’s help that we can even hope to make it through.
    Great sermon yesterday!
    Blessings!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      True Martha. There are so many things which are greater and scarier to test our hearts. Life is like that every day it seems. 🙂 Thanks for the kind words.

  3. Ed says:

    I’m just hoping I pass all these tests that are before me. 😮