THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 184)
PASSING THE TEST
April 24, 2020
Today’s readings:
Acts 5:34-42
Psalm 27:1-14
John 6:1-15
In the familiar story of the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus asked Philip where they could buy enough food to feed the large crowd. “He said this to test him” (Jn 6:6a). One translation of the Lord’s Prayer says “Do not bring us to the test1.” We certainly would want to avoid being tested, as we could fail, but the reality is that God does test us. He tested His people in the desert by affliction2. Jesus is the Teacher. And what does a teacher do? He gives tests to his students, to enable them to learn, and to help them if they fail the test3.
How have God’s people fared in these tests? Many fail. How do we fail?
First, there are those who look upon an impossible situation and so right away dismiss any possible solution. This was Philip, who said that 200 days’ wages could not buy enough food for them (Jn 6:7). Today we look at the seeming futility of overturning the entrenched evil in the world, with the massive powers-that-be promoting the culture of death, so we just give up. We give up the fight. Worse, there are those who decide to just be co-opted by the culture of the day, in effect joining the enemy.
Second, there are those who strive to see what can be done, but also end up giving up. This was Andrew, who looked at a boy’s five barley loaves and two fish, but concluded, “what good are these for so many?” (Jn 6:9). We do have resources for doing God’s work, but we compare these with the resources of the enemy arrayed against us, and we conclude that the fight is lost. We do try to pray for God to provide more for us with which to work, but if not forthcoming, we may become tepid in our work.
Third, there are those who do know God and the power of God, but become focused on what is seen (resources on earth) rather than what is unseen (how God can intervene). These were the disciples. They had already seen the miracles that Jesus could dochanging water into wine at Cana, telling the Samaritan woman at the well all about her previous life, healing the son of a royal official at Capernaum, making the man in Jerusalem who was ill and lame for 38 years walk. But the action of the disciples was to ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they could go to the villages to buy food for themselves4. Did they even think what Jesus could do about the situation, as Mary did at Cana? We often look to our own human wisdom rather than to the inscrutable wisdom of God. We use our human minds rather than put on the mind of Christ. And so we fail.
How are we to pass the test? Well, we already know many things about God, but we still oftentimes fail when the crunch comes, when we are tested. So we need to really know who our God is, and act accordingly.
First, since our God is for us, we must never be afraid to confront the powerful enemy. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?” (Ps 27:1). No matter how large and powerful the enemy is5. “Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear; though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.” (Ps 27:3). We look to God to help us, in His own way. “When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, these my enemies and foes themselves stumble and fall.” (Ps 27:2). We look to God to show us His way. “Lord, show me your way; lead me on a level path because of my enemies.” (Ps 27:11).
Second, since God is a God of mercy, we look to Him first and foremost. The answers we seek are not achieved by our own human mind and heart, but only in and through God. So we must pray and seek God’s mind in every test that we face. “Hear my voice, Lord, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger. You are my salvation; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my savior!” (Ps 27:7,9). Be assured, when we earnestly seek His face, God will not hide His face from us, repel us, cast us off, nor forsake us.
Third, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and look forward to our eternal destiny, to be with him eternally in heaven. “One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, to gaze on the Lord’s beauty, to visit his temple.” (Ps 27:4). Such a posture helps us from veering away, from giving up, from not striving for the holiness without which we will not see the Lord6. We endure and persevere.
Fourth, even as we look to heaven, we also look to God in this life. God is active and alive! Even in such a darkened world as we live in today. “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.” (Ps 27:13).God sends His people forth to evangelize. There is a spiritual war to engage in. This is God’s war. This is divine work. As such, we look not just to our own meager resources, but to the full backing of God. Gamaliel had this valuable insight, in cautioning the Sanhedrin from putting the disciples to death, saying, “For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38b-39). Next time you are opposed or persecuted for God’s work, know who protects you and who will fight for you.
Fifth, even as we know God fights for us, there will be suffering and pain. In God’s wisdom we must see that this is part of our divine call. It is part of the cross we are to bear. But it is the cross from which power and victory emanate. It is a small participation in the very suffering and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. As such, we must rejoice. The apostles were flogged, but “they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” (Acts 5:41).
How do we pass the test? We look to God and His power. We never give up the fight nor lose hope. We put on God’s mind. We push forward not in fear but in joy. We persist in God’s work. “And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.” (Acts 5:42).
1 The other translation is “lead us not into temptation.”
2 See Deuteronomy 8:2. In contrast, His people kept testing God. See Numbers 14:22.
3 In the gospel of Matthew, this part of the Lord’s Prayer says “and do not subject us to the final test.” The final exam! The severe trial before the end of the age. Will most fail and only a small flock make it?
4 See Matthew 14:15.
5 As we in MFC defend faith, family and life, we will be opposed and assaulted by the forces of the culture of death, which includes LGBT supporters, giant abortion orgs, globalists, depopulationists, liberal billionaire philanthropists, much of mainstream media, bureaucrats of the UN, the EU and the WHO, proponents of the New World Order, and even modernist clerics and prelates.
6 See Hebrews 12:14.
