Focus: The Test Of Faith

Text: Gen.22:1

"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am."

The reality and authenticity of our faith is known through testing. God tests our faith by placing a demand on it. The word 'test' means to prove the reality or quality of a thing. There has to be a situation for faith to prove itself. Faith never functions in a vacuum. You never can tell whether faith is a fair weather faith or not until it is tried. It is faith tested that becomes faith triumphant.

As I said earlier, God tests our faith by placing demands on it. So God said to Abraham, "And he said, Take now THY SON, thine ONLY SON Isaac, whom thou LOVEST, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and OFFER him there for a BURNT OFFERING upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." God demanded for Abraham's best - his only son. God deserves and requires our best.

God saw Isaac as Abraham's only son. God did not see Ishmael in the picture. Isaac was a child of promise, but Ishmael was a fleshly or a carnal child. As far as faith or the covenant of God was concerned, Ishmael was not Abraham's child. God demanded from Abraham not only his best, but also his son who he loved. 

God does not demand from us what we have no love for. He requires that which matters much to us. In fact, David said to Araunah, "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing…" (2Sam.24:24). 

God is not deserving of our leftovers. Whatever God requires of us is actually what He has given us. We owe God everything that we own.

He is the original owner and sole giver of all we possess. It is interesting to know that it is from our text that the word 'love' first occurs in the Bible, and it is also interesting to know that in this first occurrence it is connected to sacrifice. Love and sacrifice belong together. God tests us in the area of what we love. He wants us to sacrifice to Him our best - our only, and He also wants us to sacrifice to Him what we love dearly. That is the test of faith. God commands our obedience - the obedience of faith. Our faith requires that we not only believe God, but also obey Him. Belief bereft of obedience is not enough to God.

From time to time our faith faces some serious tests. The quality of our faith is proven or demonstrated through trials and challenges. Our faith is tested both by God and by Satan. 

God tests our faith to reveal its quality and to strengthen it, but Satan tests our faith to thwart or destroy it.

Faith is known for its works, for faith without work is dead. An empty faith has nothing to offer. A tested faith is revealed for what it is. An untested faith is unreal.

We need to be spiritually sensitive to know when God is testing us. Whatever God tells you to do, do it willingly and urgently. Ensure that you pass God's test and overcome Satan's trials. Give God what you love. Give God your best. Faith rises to higher heights on the wings of obedience. Do more than believe God; obey Him! Doing God's pleasure or behest is for our own good.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter