Testing, Tempting and Hard Times
In the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to work with a local high school proctoring its AP tests. Each morning and afternoon, young students come in excited and anxious. They know the tests are designed to be difficult, and college credit is riding on the outcome.
I have been encouraged by the attitude of most of the other proctors—truly wanting the students to do well, and trying to encourage them as much as we are allowed to given the rules. As I watch this, I am reminded of my first year in college. Our New Testament Survey class was preparing for an exam—an exam given by Dr. North. Dr. North was an amazing professor, but not an easy one. Yet, in this first major exam I had with him, he began by reminding us of two Greek words that are often translated “test” in the New Testament.
The first one is peirazo. This “test” is “I am giving you this test and I know you are going to fail! I am hoping you do, and I have done what I can to ensure your failure!” It is a word frequently translated “tempt” and is almost exclusively used of enemies or The Enemy.
The other word is dokimazo. This “test” is more like “I am testing you to show you how strong you are. I know you can do this, and that the very process of the test will make you stronger. I hope you do well!” This is the used frequently of what God does in our lives. This word was used in ancient Greece to describe smelting—the heating of ore to the point where it liquifies in order to scoop the impurities out and leave only pure gold. If we humanize the metaphor, I’m sure the ore doesn’t enjoy the heat being turned up so hot. But the end result is exactly what it needs!
After he explained these terms, he reminded us that he wanted the best for us and was confident that this test would strengthen us in our lives and service to the King. He then prayed that God would give us memory and wisdom and allow us to do well on his test! I have remembered this and prayed for the same for every class to whom I ever gave an exam.
Many of us are going through difficult times. For some, it is financial. For others, relational. For many of my peers, it is physical as we age and death becomes very real to us. It is tempting to be discouraged. We know we are fallen and we deserve what we get, but we hope for mercy and compassion for our loving Father. But God does not tempt us—ever. Instead, He tests us to strengthen us—and this continues to the day we die. His purpose is clearly stated in Hebrews 12—to discipline us out of love in order to produce the final result—righteousness and peace in our lives. God’s wisdom and knowledge are so far beyond ours that we don’t even know when He is doing the most loving thing for us. That’s why we have to trust Him!
I am confident that, no matter how difficult your circumstances are, if you belong to Him, He is even know strengthening you through these tests!
Know Jesus and Be Faithful, Randy Christian of the Essential Faith Project