The book of James speaks of the "testing of your faith" (1:3). It's true-these tests will come and will, in turn, reveal much about you. In the Old Testament, Moses told the people of Israel, "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
This is how we know what we are made of-how strong we are, and what we have truly learned thus far. What you've been taught is only theory until it's been tested. How do you know you can be trusted if you are untested? And life will test you!
Charles Swindoll tells the following story:
Chippy, the parakeet, never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage singing, the next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. His problem began when his owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum. She stuck the nozzle in to suck up the seeds and feathers at the bottom of the cage. Then the phone rang. Instinctively, she turned to pick it up. She barely said "hello" when -sswwwwwppppp! Chippy got sucked in. She gasped, let the phone drop, and snapped off the vacuum. With her heart in her mouth, she unzipped the bag. There was Chippy-alive, but stunned-covered with heavy black dust. She grabbed him and rushed to the bathtub, turned on the faucet full blast and held Chippy under a torrent of ice-cold water, power-washing him clean. Then she did what any compassionate pet owner would do: she snatched up the hairdryer and blasted the wet, shivering little bird with hot air.
Swindoll closes the story saying these words:
Chippy doesn't sing much anymore.
Life will test you-you can count on that. But don't let it steal your song!
Have a Blessed Day,
Pastor Ron