Article written by: Dr. Jim Reeve
Life is meant to be enjoyed, not simply endured. Most people settle for survival, a few attain some level of success, and fewer still actually live a life of significance. I believe that God intends for His children to live life at the highest level. Jesus made reference to this when He said concerning His followers, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Today the phrase “to the full” would be comparable to the volume knob on our stereos being turned up “to the max.” Are you living life to the max? Are you moving toward your potential? Are you settling for a firecracker life when you have nuclear potential?
While living at the highest level is available to all God’s children, it does not come easy. If it were easy all would be experiencing it. There are some tests that stand between you and the abundant life God intends. What is your reaction to a test? Fear? Worry? Apprehension? Actually, tests are not negative things to be avoided. Typically they precede advancement or promotion. For example, one cannot graduate without passing final exams. One cannot become a police officer without passing both written and oral examinations. The same is true of doctors, lawyers, and emergency personnel.
Products we use everyday are tested for safety and quality. Electrical appliances are tested and inspected before going on the market. I have occasionally pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of a new coat that says, “Inspected by #2234.” Minimum standards need to be met. A wise consumer would never buy a car without first taking it for a test drive to see how it handles the road (and of course to enjoy that new car smell).
Aren’t you glad that the airplane you are on will not take off until the pilot runs through a series of test to make certain it can safely take off and land? Though a delay may be both frustrating and inconvenient it sure beats a potentially fatal problem!
Test are seldom fun, convenient, or easy, but they are necessary preparations for living our lives at the next level. Tests prove that we are big enough, strong enough, and wise enough to handle the challenges of living life at the top. In this regard, much can learned from the father of the faith – Abraham. Abraham certainly lived a life of both success and significance, but it was not without its tests. Let’s take a look at few of the tests that Abraham passed.
Test of Vision
No one can make it to the next level without perseverance – a “never say die spirit.” Obstacles, detours, and enemies are enough to cause most to give up. Champions face the same challenges as everyone else, but they keep their eyes on the finish line. What they see motivates them to press on through any and every situation. Moses, for example, “persevered because he saw him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). In other words, vision births perseverance – the key to success.
In Genesis 11:31 we read that Terah, Abraham’s father, took his family from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan – The Promised Land. Could it be that Terah was offered the same promise as Abraham? Perhaps we would be singing about Father Terah instead of Father Abraham if Terah had not, as the Bible says, settled in Haran, a place best described as a parched land. I wonder what caused Terah to stay in a dry place when the land that flows with milk and honey was his destination?
The answer may lie in the fact that Haran had the same idol gods as Ur so he felt right at home especially if, as tradition suggests, he made his living making idols. Terah could not see that God had better plans for him and his posterity. He had no vision. Therefore he had no perseverance. Thus he settled for a dry place where he was comfortable and unchallenged.
Why do so many people settle? Because it is easier to settle for less than make the changes necessary for living life at the next level. Everyone wants change, but no one wants to change. Everyone wants the dream, but most do not want to pay the price to embrace the dream.
People who decide to finally change do so for one of two reasons: 1) people change because they see GAIN (a prize worth sacrificing for); and 2) people change because they feel PAIN. Very few change for gain – the price is often too high. Most people who change do so when the pain outgrows their complacency. Only when our toothache grows greater than our fear of the dentist will we dare to finally make that appointment. But if a couple of aspirin lessens the pain to tolerable level, we forget about the appointment. We settle for life with a low-grade toothache!
Abraham and Moses saw something most do not see. They passed the test of vision and were able to persevere. Change is hard, but it is necessary to get your life to the highest level. Can you see the prize? Can you see the gain? Will it keep you going so you won’t settle for less?
Test of Addition and Subtraction
When Abraham did what his father would not do – head off to Canaan – he allowed his nephew Lot to join him. This proved to be a mistake. Lot became a constant source of danger, aggravation, and heartache for Abraham. Lot was always complaining about how much he was getting compared to Abraham. Like most modern Americans, he was worried about missing his piece of the pie. On one occasion, due to his own stupidity, he ended up being kidnapped and had to be rescued by Uncle Abe. At another time Lot had to be virtually dragged out of Sodom by Abraham so his family would not be destroyed. In short, Lot was like an anchor on Abraham’s journey to the Promised Land.
Who is holding you back? A boyfriend? Your drinking buddies? It may be time to cut the connection with them. They may be friends, but they are unintentionally holding you back from your destiny. This does not mean that you cannot be cordial with them anymore, it just means that you should not be spending the bulk of your time and energy in maintaining that relationship, especially since it is bringing you down.
Some people, habits, and false beliefs may need to be subtracted from your life if you expect to live at the next level. Conversely, God can bring godly, mature people into your live that can help you get to your Promised Land. Also, God wants to “brainwash” you! That is to say, replace your old “stinkin’ thinkin’” with a renewed mind thinking His thoughts and practicing His ways.
Are you willing to make the tough calls to subtract some people from your life who are holding you back? Once you do, God will send the right people into your life at the right time to accomplish the right things to get your life to the next level.
Test of Trust
God changed Abraham’s name. His original name was Abram, meaning “exalted father.” God changed it to Abraham, which means “father of multitudes.” There was only one problem – Abraham had no children at all! All he had was a promise from God that his offspring would be numerous as the sands of the seashores and the stars of the skies.
As Abraham and his wife Sarah aged well beyond their childbearing years God’s promise seemed more and more unlikely, even impossible. In Genesis 16 Sarah, out of desperation, proposes that Abraham sleep with her servant Hagar, a practice that was not uncommon at that time. Sarah’s goal was to help God’s promise come true. The result of “helping God” was nothing but trouble as Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. To this day the struggle we read about in the Middle East has its roots in the struggle between Isaac, the child of promise, and Ishmael, the child of the flesh.
When nothing seems to be happening it is very tempting to try to help God fulfill His promise to us. But God does not need our help – He needs our trust. God works through the faith and trust of His children. Can you stand in faith when your eyes see nothing and your emotions feel nothing? Paul tells us in Romans that despite his faltering, Abraham did trust in the Lord.
“Against all hope, Abraham believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:18-21).
Thank the Lord the Bible is an honest book. Like us, Abraham was not perfect, but he was a man of trust. Making mistakes, getting off on the wrong path, or having doubt is simply being human and does not mean that we have disqualified ourselves as people of faith. Faith is not pretending. Faith is not denial of reality. Faith is facing the facts with trust in the One who can overrule the facts. Fact: Abraham was old. Fact: Sarah was beyond childbearing years. Faith: But God can still fulfill His promise.
The test of trust is about applying your faith to real life situations so you can live life at the next level. Have you tried to force God’s hand in your job? In your family? If God has given you a promise, then trust Him because He will not fail.
Test of Love and Devotion
When God begins to bless our lives another test comes our way. For example, I have noted that when the Lord blesses His children with cars and houses, the business of enjoying and maintaining those blessings take us away from church and an active spiritual life. We can become too busy for God because of His many favors.
At some point God is going to come along and ask, “What are you in love with more – Me or My blessing?” This is the test of love and devotion. Who are you in love with, the blessing or the Blessor? The gift or the Giver? What is the number one passion in your life? Family? Success? Money?
Abraham faced this test when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. The issue here was not human sacrifice, which the Bible abhors, but love and devotion to God. Abraham would never have had Isaac if it were not for the blessing and favor of God. God had the right to ask for the blessing back, and to see if Abraham loved the blessing (Isaac) more than the Blessor (God).
With amazing courage and trust Abraham climbs the mountain with Isaac all the while constantly being asked by his son where the sacrifice is. Abraham kept responding the Lord would provide, knowing in his heart that his beloved son was the sacrifice. God was silent the whole time until Abraham, after preparing his son for death, had his hand raised ready to give back to the Lord the blessing God had given him. He passed the test, and the Lord stayed his arm so the child would not be harmed. Notice, by the way, that God did not stay the hands of the executioners when He allowed His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross that we might have forgiveness and newness of life.
Whatever test we are facing, it may seem like God is silent and even nowhere to be found. Actually, He is right there, but we may not know it because like any good teacher He allows no talking or cheating during tests. Like teachers, God is often silent during our times of testing because He is seeing if we are truly ready for advancement – for next level living. Never forget, however, that even during those times when God is silent, He is never deaf. He hears our cries and knows our needs. He will never stop being Jehovah Jirah, our Provider.
The next time the going gets tough – cheer up! Know that God is preparing you for even greater abundant living. Tests are seldom fun or easy, but they are necessary prerequisites for living at the next level. Get ready for a divine promotion. God wants you to enjoy life and fulfill your destiny.
