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Life is like an open book test. God has given us His book to guide
and direct our lives. He has taught us to test Him, His word, and
ourselves. But He has let us keep His book for the test - an open
book test.
Now this sounds a little strange: "Test God." But the fact is that
God does not expect, nor desire, us to believe Him without thorough
scrutiny of Him and His word. Because those who test God to prove
Him out in their lives will believe.
This message is everywhere in the New Testament identified by the
word dokimaz: (dok-im-ad'-zo) vb., to test, examine, prove by testing,
approve. Paul informs the Thessalonians that God had put him to
the test so that he may stand approved before them having been entrusted
with the gospel (1 Th. 2:4). Contrasted to this He later commands:
"Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form
of evil" (1 Th. 5:21-22). Christians are to put all things to the
test to find out whether they are good or evil, holding fast to
those things which are good and abstaining from those things which
are evil.
Likewise Paul instructs Christians to: examine (test) themselves
as to whether they are properly partaking of the Lord's Supper (1
Cor. 11:28), test (to approve) those who are entrusted with the
administration of financial matters of the church (1 Cor. 16:3;
2 Cor. 8:22; 1 Tim. 3:10); examine and prove (test) themselves as
to whether they are in the faith, that Christ is living in them
(2 Cor. 13:5). And, Christians are not to test themselves according
to the standards of men (Gal. 6:4) but according to the divine standard
of God (Eph. 5:10). All this results in Christians having no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather exposing them
(Eph. 5:11).
This message is no clearer than in Paul's epistle to the Romans.
In the second half of chapter one Paul convicts the Gentiles in
that they did not approve (test, prove, see fit, like) to retain
God in their knowledge; therefore God gave them over to an unapproved
(untested, unfit, debased, reprobate) mind (Rom. 1:28). Here Paul
reveals that the majority of Gentiles did not acknowledge the attributes
of God in creation (vs. 20) and therefore did not think it worthwhile
to test Him - to discover His Person and follow Him. Therefore they
did not believe in God and He gave them over to commit those things
generated from a reprobate mind - sin.
Then in chapter two Paul convicts the Jews who, having the law,
had approved (tested, examined) the things which are excellent (Rom.
2:18), but they stilled sinned. So, the law was of no avail to them.
Therefore Paul convicts both Jew and Gentile as equals in the sight
of God - sinners (Rom. 3). He says: "for all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).
In chapter twelve Paul begins the "application" section of the
epistle saying: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove (prove through
testing - aem) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will
of God" (Rom. 12:2).
So how does one renew his mind to live according the will of God?
First prove God; second prove His word; third live according to
the things which are proved to be good. Paul says: "Let love be
without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good" (Rom.
12:9).
Life is like an open book test. Those who care to open the book
of God to prove and live-out those things which are good will receive
a crown of life. But those who close the book of God and ignore
His word, close the book on everlasting life.
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