Higher Education

Reading Through the Bible (Gen.22-24)

"Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham," Gen.22:1

"Complete and unwavering faith in God is only accomplished through many trials and over many years. It was "after these things" that God gave Abraham his biggest test. After Abraham had left his homeland and all that was dear to him, after he experienced the results of going to Egypt for food, after Lot had taken the good well-watered land, after twenty-five years of waiting for the promised son, after Ishmael had been sent away, after God had said, "through Isaac your descendants shall be reckoned, after Isaac had nearly grown, "after these things," God tested Abraham's faith." (AB Simpson)

"Lauren," I said, "I heard you are studying for your big tests that are coming up. How are you doing that?"

"Grandma," she answered, "They give you some things that you can use to study for ACT's and SAT's. But, I think it's mostly testing you on what you've learned over the years."

"Testing you on what you've learned over the years." True words. Wise words!

When I started high school physics, I already knew that I didn't know anything about physics. I didn't really want to know anything about physics! But, to get into nursing, I needed the course. It was only after I had studied my book and listened to the lectures and done the experiments, that I could take the final exam. The results of the test showed me that now I knew a little about physics. "After these things" I took the exam. There wouldn't have been much point in testing me when I started taking the course. I already knew what I didn't know about physics.

The life of a believer is a series of tests. The Bible says we go from glory to glory as we're transformed into the image of Christ. God does His work in us as we study His Word, listen to His promptings, and go through His labs. Then He gives us the test. When we've finished does He look at the results of our obedience and say, "Wow! You got an A on that one? I'm shocked!"

I don't think so. He knows our hearts. He knows everything. But we don't. We think we know a lot about life but we don't. Not until we go through His courses taught in His way. Then we get to take our tests. The results show us what we have learned on our latest pilgrimage experience. They don't show God, they show us.

Deut.8:2; "And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not."

Lauren did really well on her two big tests. "After these things..." She's been a good student and she has studied hard in school for many years. I wasn't surprised at how well she did, but I wondered if she was? Her good results will give her encouragement for the next steps in her "joyful journey" through life. She will have stronger faith in her ability to learn new things in college.

What if she hadn't done well? What if she'd been sick, or had a bad hair day, or had a flat tire on the way, or couldn't find the place where SAT's and ACT's were being administered? I asked her about that.

She replied, "You get other chances. You can reschedule and take them again. If you feel like you didn't do well, you can retake the tests. But, I'm so glad to be done!"

"You can reschedule!" I laughed because God has rescheduled me on tests quite a few times. I feel like there are some tests that I have taken over and over again. I'm still not sure how well I've learned some of the things He's been trying to teach me.

Lauren's done, temporarily. She can rest from SAT's and she deserves to. She can rest from ACT's but she still has reams of homework every night. She has to finish high school. College will mean more tests. Lots more. In lots of ways. That's the thing about higher education.

I wish I could encourage my granddaughter and say, "Don't worry, when you finish college - no more tests!" The truth is, there is no graduation from tests for the believer, not in this life. God is taking all of us through His "Higher Education"courses. But, one day we will be finished with all of our testing. We'll have gone through the sanctification process. When we reach Heaven and enter our glorification, we will get more than a graduation cap, we'll receive a crown of life!

Tests will keep coming, we can be sure of that. The good news is that they come "after these things." After we have gone through the course. After we're ready to see what we have learned and what has been added to our hearts. What joy we will experience when God shows us our "permanent record" in heaven and says, "Well done. You have been a faithful and good servant. Your tests are over!"