SPIRITUAL TESTING

 

By A. W. Tozer

 

Do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you:

ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

                                                      -- Deuteronomy 5:32

 

    In the scriptural accounts, there are many examples of

men and women being tested, and I think it is plain that

the Holy Spirit rarely tells a believer that he is about to be

tested.

 

    Abraham was being tested when the Lord asked him to

take his only son up into the mountain.  He thought he

was being ordered.  He did not know he was being tested.

 

    Peter was unconsciously tested.  Paul was tested and

tried.  There does come a time when we have heard

enough truth and the Holy Spirit says, "Today this

disciple is going to be tested."

 

    The people of Israel in their time of testing came to

Kadesh-Bamea and instead of crossing into the promised

land, they said, "We will not go over!"  God simply let

them make their own test and they flunked it!

 

    Are there any among us who have an honest desire to

be Christlike?  We should all be aware that every day is a

day of testing. Some come to their own Kadesh-Bamea

and turn back.

 

    What a solemn thought: that many of the persons

whom God is testing will flunk the test! 

---

Yours in Christ,

Paul N. F.