Understanding God
The idea that life is a test, a testing ground for God apparently disturbs many people. People often do not like to be tested. This is especially true of what they consider their private choices. Indeed, you can live life as you please and this essential to God’s purpose. You are at the center of God’s purpose and not the earth, not the universe, not your earthly accomplishments or failures, not the things or people you love – BUT YOU! You will pass or fail the test God has set before you.
The girl on the left is taking a written test and there are many forms of testing. Athletic, psychological, mental awareness, driving tests, tests of endurance and really a very long list. The only test that will matter is your life test.
Life Is A Test
The noun “Test” defined from free online dictionary
1. A procedure for critical evaluation; a means of determining the presence, quality, or truth of something; a trial: a test of one’s eyesight; subjecting a hypothesis to a test; a test of an athlete’s endurance.
2. A series of questions, problems, or physical responses designed to determine knowledge, intelligence, or ability.
3. A basis for evaluation or judgment: “A test of democratic government is how Congress and the president work together” (Haynes Johnson).
I have come to believe what God has in mind for mankind is pretty well defined by this definition of test. It is the most sophisticated of all tests as it covers a person’s lifetime and in the process correctly reveals each person and has a perfect judge. That is, a judge who makes perfect judgments. Humankind makes choices that determine the test outcome but has no choice regarding participation in the test. This is fundamental for understanding God, that is specifically understanding God’s purpose for humankind.
Some Important Things To Help Understand God’s Test
The bible verses below provide an explanation of God that depicts a very specific way in which He tests man. God’s revelations to man such as the explanation of the existence of all things and the first people (Adam and Eve), Noah and the Ark and hundreds of other depictions are true and contain pieces of what life is all about. As the verses below suggest God’s message, God’s ways will be foolishness to some and I think largely to the proud. God is sorting out those who will spend eternity with Him and NOTHING God does is without purpose. Yet we can understand God correctly but only if we are not proud. We will need humility and open-mindedness to decide to act according to His directions. The ways God discerns those who pass and those who fail are unique and powerful and with perfect fairness. There is so much we can learn about God and it is exciting to really know with certainty life’s purpose and how God will make decisions regarding each person.
1 Corinthians 1.18-25
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written:
“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
There is so much to be learned about God from these verses but one very obvious thing is that there is a test and the nature of the test. There are many men/women that will stand defiant against God even denying His existence but in the end this is just God putting you in your place and indeed you decided your own fate. God has and continues to make foolish the wisdom of the world. You might summarize these passages as each person will decide whether to follow after God or reject God. Essentially you reject God by placing confidence in yourself and/or in other persons. Men and Women select to reject God typically for some personal reason, some desire that is not aligned with God or they believe may not be aligned with God. So they question God, even His existence as though that will give them some peace while seeking to fulfill their desires. God just says foolish. One thing you will find as you come to better understand God is that the evidence related to the truth about life and God’s expectations is just overwhelming. People with closed, proud minds just never learn very much about God and even believe there is no evidence. As you better understand God you will also understand that everything is working perfectly such that God’s purpose will be achieved.
God Provides The Book of Job For You
The Book of Job in many ways does not fit the “scripture flow” as God unrolls His plan throughout history for man’s reconciliation. It is like an intermission in the continuum from Genesis 3.15 to the arrival of God’s answer in Christ. Yet there it is, the Book of Job with Job, God and Satan being the main characters. It is a story of loyalty to God despite very excruciating difficult times for Job. It just “happens” to coincide with What Life Is All About. Trusting God even in difficult situations is the lesson, certainly not denying Him. Can you overcome, despite the suffering, despite those who want you to give up. Well, if you can overcome like Job did (and it was very difficult for him) you can like Job be greatly rewarded but in your case in heaven.
It is very interesting how so many see the information, characterizations from God as childish stories and call them the imagination of some men. Yet there are so many things that men and women accept without any apparent good reason. It is very simply because WE BELIEVE WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE in line with our way of life, and desires. The bible message for many is dreaded, limiting and at each opportunity the bible message is ridiculed. Truth seekers with a humble spirit are not naive and with perseverance like Job achieve the goal.
The book, “What Is Life All About” is subtitled “Coming To The Correct Understanding Of God And His Purpose For Life.” The emphasis is understanding God as He has revealed Himself. The thought is simply that such an understanding can be enormously helpful in sorting out truth from error. That is, truth from God and error from the religions of men.
What Is Life All About is available in “hardback, paperback and digital versions.”
19 For it is written:
“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.