TESTING 1,2,3!

 

 

(Rom. 8: 35) "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, sword. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

(Job 1:21b-22) "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

(Job 42: 10b, 12a)  "Also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning."

           How do we handle tribulations and tests? How do we respond when our world is turned upside-down? Do we buckle under or give up all hope? Do we turn to God or from God in our time of crisis? Do we allow others to dictate our course of action concerning the conditions of our struggles? Do we keep the faith knowing God will deliver us?

          Testing 1,2,3! This phrase is used in sound engineering or stage settings to make sure the audio and amplification of microphones, musical instruments, etc., are working and adjusted properly. It's call a Sound-check. If things are good, it's a go! It's important to the sound tech to have them "tested" to detect causes which can be corrected.  Let's take a peek back at Job's life. Job walked before God upright and blameless. He faired very well and was wealthy, yet loved God. Satan recognized this and wanted to prove (do a check test) to see if he was allowed the opportunity to touch him with tribulations and tests, he'd throw in the towel and stop serving God. Testing 1,2,3! Suddenly, all Job possessed (children, land, livestock, property and his health were taken away from him). What would we have done in this situation? One of my favorite verses Job quoted during this ordeal is (Job 13:15) "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him". There will be times when those who are the closest to you will try to get you to discount your faith and trust in God. Job's friends, and even his wife, were such ones during his time of trials.
We must know, that we know that we know, If God be for us, who can be against us?

           During our times of tribulations and tests, we must STAND, STAND, STAND. There will come times in our own lives when the enemy will attack us and try to influence us to turn from God. Testing 1,2,3! We must have confidence in who we believe and what we believe to combat his attack and evil schemes. Jesus warned us that in this life we would have trials and tribulations. Yet, he encouraged us by letting us know that he had overcome them and so would we. Remember that our trials, tribulations and tests come to make us strong and not meant to destroy us. You are more than a conqueror! God will not put more on us than we can bear. If it is there, it means that He knows we can bear it! Testing 1,2,3!