What Tests Reveal - Martin Wiles

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT

Tests don’t measure everything, but they are a good measure of what we know about a given subject.

As a Language Arts teacher, I design my tests to determine what students know in the areas of spelling, grammar, literature, and writing. I’m not big on multiple-choice or true false, so I limit most of my tests to short answer, matching, and discussion questions.

Matching questions weed out students who have studied the material only enough to recognize the answer. Short answer tells whether or not the student has spent an adequate amount of time in study to produce the answers from memory. And discussion takes it to a further level by requiring students to reason out and apply some of the text. Regardless of where the student falls on the testing level, their scores reveal something.

According to Paul, our life is a test … and beyond that our faith. He challenges us to test ourselves to see if our faith is genuine. Beyond that, he tells us to take an exam. In the academic world, that would be a big test on all the students have learned over an entire semester—or year.

Evidently, the possibility exists that we might not pass the faith test. A terrible thing when we think about it. To think all my life that I belonged to God’s family, only to hear Him say when I stood before Him at the final judgment, “I never knew you.” And Jesus says this will happen (Matthews 7:23).

Deception is possible. Thinking I’m on good terms with God because my family was. Or because I attended church, gave a little to charitable organizations, said a few prayers along the way, did good works, or overall was a good person. None of which carry any saving power in and of themselves.

The exam … the test … involves whether or not I believe Jesus is God’s Son who paid for the sins of humanity on Calvary’s cross, whether I’ve asked Him to forgive my sins, and whether I’ve committed my life to obey and follow Him. If so, I’ve passed the exam, and my eternity is secure. And yours is too.

Examine yourself to see if your faith is real. Don’t risk an unfavorable eternity because you don’t like to take tests.

Prayer: Father, thank You for letting us know whether or not we belong to You.

Tweetable: Will you pass the most important test? 

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Throwback Tuesday - Passing the Pop Tests - Martin Wiles

Passing the Pop Tests

Pop tests. A test students aren’t informed of. I had them in most of my college classes, and occasionally I give them to my middle school students. Unlike my college professors, I normally warn my students one is coming. Doing so makes my pop tests deviate from the literal definition. I’ll never forget the student— who after hearing me say “Take out one sheet of paper,” said, “But Dr. Wiles, it wasn’t on Renweb.” (The system we use to record grades, lesson plans, and homework assignments.) I quickly informed her that listing a pop quiz as a homework assignment destroys the purpose of the quiz. Read more...

Tweetable: How are you doing on life's pop tests?

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Choosing Right - Martin Wiles

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs 14:12 NLT

She took her pencil, scribbled on her desk, and covered it with books.

The class had a test, and cheating was always a possibility—although I assumed their innocence until they proved me otherwise. This time one of them did.

I wanted to look at what she had written, but couldn’t bring myself to. After the late bell rang, I instructed them to clear their desks and to get out a piece of paper to cover their tests. She made sure she put her paper over what she had written on the desk. I knew I had to confront her.

“Macy, can I see you outside.”

She looked startled, as did the other students. No one said a word. She got up and followed me outside the room.

“I’m going to give you one chance to be honest. Did you write answers for the test on your desk?”

Her head dropped. “I did, but I erased them because I knew it was being dishonest.”

I felt sorry for her. She was a smart girl. I wondered why she felt the need to cheat.

“You know that’s cheating,” I reminded her.

She did, and she apologized. I could have given her a zero, but I chose to be gracious—as God is with me.

“I’ll overlook it this time, but if it happens again, you’ll receive a zero,” I sternly reminded her.

For whatever reason, cheating seemed the right way for her. Death for her could have been a zero had I enforced the rules instead of given grace. Wise King Solomon spoke of such a path too. The path varies for everyone—and the path changes during our lifetime—but any path leading us away from God and from the choices He wants us to make means death of some sort.

Choosing wrong is always easier than choosing right. Our fleshly nature makes it so. Peer pressure from various sources makes choosing right even more difficult. God has promised no temptation would be greater than His ability to help us overcome. Making choices based on His principles and commands is the best path. And if I trust Him, He’ll give me the strength to make wise choices that grow me spiritually and provide a good example for others.

Choose to make godly choices—regardless of the circumstances.

Tweetable: What helps you choose the right thing?

Prayer: Father, give us Your Spirit’s power so we can choose the right paths in life. 

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Passing Life’s Tests - Martin Wiles

The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. Psalm 11:5 NLT

My goal was straight As, but tests often kept me from reaching it.

While in high school, I was satisfied with earning Cs. Even my parents settled when they saw my lack of concern for school.

By the time I entered college, my mindset had changed. Now I wanted to make As in each class. Getting an A on written papers or other assignments wasn’t a problem. Tests were another story. They covered a great deal of material. Professors were not known for giving reviews. True/False sections were tricky. Essay questions were subjective. Missing a few points on each one was common.

But I learned from my test mistakes. I looked at what I missed and why. I researched the correct answer. After the first year of college, I learned the art of test taking: learn your professor. They look for certain things. If I could master that, my chances of earning an A increased.

According to the psalmist, God also gives exams to everyone—His followers and His rejectors. But His tests are not on how much of the Bible we know or on how much we’ve learned in life. His tests are processes that last a lifetime.

Tests are sent and allowed by God. This explains why tests that exam my moral fabric come with regularity. Satan is out to make me fail the test of godliness. God allows this—as He did with Old Testament Job—but His goal is not to fail me. God’s tests—and the ones He allows Satan to give me—are designed to teach, as were the tests I took in school.

As on my school tests, I often make mistakes on God’s tests—with this difference. I won’t fail God’s exams as long as I keep trying. His forgiveness is limitless. Through the tests, I’ll grow and be conformed to His image.

Some of God’s exams are fiery trials, testing the fabric of which I’m made. They are designed to destroy dross in my life and refine what is good. Dross often comes disguised as wrong motives for things I do. When this is removed, God can make the good even better.

Learn not to dread God’s exams. He only has your best interests at heart. His tests will take you further than you ever thought you could go.

Tweetable: Is fear causing you to fail God's exams?

Prayer: Father, guide us through life’s exams so that we might learn what You want to teach us. 

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