Many times we get so carried away with the prospects of a bright and a glorious future that we loose sight of an important detail, the fact that we must pass through tests and exams to reach those glorious levels ahead.

I am not just referring to a classroom test or exam to mean that our passage to a glorious future must be “certificated” or come through a degree certificate,  No…

Life has tests too, we are tested by life’s tests or exams from time to time. Life throws us *hard questions* that we must provide answers to  or problems we must proffer solutions to if we must move forward. As we’ve been told we are pencils in the hands of our creator, *our pencils* are made to write real life tests and exams. The same can be said of our spiritual life or walk in the spirit as believers. Words we come across while reading scriptures like trials, tribulations, battles are coded forms of test situations or scenarios we interface with as children of God.

You must be found faithful in little things before more is placed in your hands. Luke 16:10

We could compare the school or classroom to the classroom of life. If you fail school’s test, you remain in the same class, repeat or drop out after several attempts but when you pass you move to the next class, grade or level of glory. Something similar can be said of our spiritual life, when we fail spiritual tests, we remain on the same level till we do. Our upward mobility has been provided for in Christ but it isn’t automatic, we must pay the price for this upward trajectory. I know from my Christian experience and that of others that we could get ecstatic and carried away with the wonderful prospects, messages of our glorious destination but we must pass through tests and exams to reach the glorious levels ahead. Joseph for one was shown the revelation of his glorious future but denied access to the preceding tests and trials. He was spared the full details of his glorious future and it is good we remind ourselves of this minute details so we aren’t discouraged as we journey through to our place of glory and destiny.

For every next level or grade there’s a preceding test or examination. Every promotional examination is preceded by series of teachings or preparation in the classroom and this learning period culminates in our examination. So it is with spiritual life too,  as each one of us will have times when what we’ve now come to believe will be tested, when what we’ve learned from the word overtime is placed on demand and it is important for us to pass those tests if we must get to our next levels. There are hurdles we must scale over to reach our destination(destiny).

A lot of emphasis is placed on getting into the promised land but we overlook where the rite of passage is gotten from, it’s gotten from the wilderness. Wilderness is a place of test and you can only *pass through the wilderness, not fail through*  Only a *PASS* can grant you a passage just like your *password* gives you access to your system, only a *PASS* can unlock the access gates to your next level.  Wilderness is the middle passage we transit through to our promised land.

Test and tempt are very often used interchangeably as many can’t see the difference but we have it on good authority from scriptures that they are different as the scriptures tell us that God cannot tempt us with evil but we are tempted by our flesh being instigated by the devil(James 1:13-15) . We also know from scriptures that God tests as Abraham was a case in point. I believe the thin line of difference is that tests just like in a classroom or school system are primarily set up to promote people to their next level or grade, so you don’t remain in the same class more than necessary and it is initiated by God while temptation which is initiated and instigated by the devil using the flesh is to ensure you are defeated and remain defeated. So tests are set to determine or validate our eligibility for promotion the same way interview examination comes before your job placement while temptations are more like an attack to ensure you’re vulnerable and susceptible to the attack so you remain a failure. Hence, the need to resist the devil and his schemes.

Temptations will seek to make you vulnerable in test situations,  like a thought comes to you to cheat during a class test or exam.

A good example was Jesus’ wilderness experience. Jesus was led by spirit into the wilderness to fast for forty days and nights, Jesus encountered many things rolled into one, he was tested, he was also tempted by Satan and the enemy would use his flesh too when he was hungry.

Jesus passed his test because He obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit to fast, he not only passed  the test but overcame the temptations in the process. Test and tempt are like two of a kind and “kind of like” work simultaneously like two sides of a coin. Test situations will expose you to temptations (to obey or not to obey)  while not yielding to or resisting temptation can be considered or classified as another kind of test, a different type. Either way, a test-pass {obedience in test situations} or tempt-fail-{failed attempt to lure you into sin} will see you going through to your next level. *Obedience to God’s instructions* is what is required in a test situation while *resistance to the Devils devices* is what is required in tempt situation. When you obey in a test situation you earn a victory – pass and when you resist in a tempt situation too you earn your victory – pass so either which way you secure your victory-pass to your testimony.

*Tests leads to testimony*      Success in life is not just a result of working on your gift or talent but a result of overcoming odds, problems and tragedies too.

Someone says the beauty God brings forth in your life often comes from your most broken places.

There are life’s situations that may challenge and confound contemporary solutions known to us and this may cause tear drops from our eyes as this was something we never bargained for, you’ll need to put behind those tears and cries as God wants us to see this other perspective. “Count it all joy”

The way we respond or react to test situations matter.

James 1:2-4 My Brethren count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience but let patience have her perfect work that you maybe perfect.

And if we can see our tests as a set up for promotion then we would be able to appreciate God in test situations. *The knowledge and wisdom required to solve some of life’s hardest questions and pass life’s test is revealed or released when we adopt the right attitude of REJOICING* .  Answers to some of life’s tougher questions are revealed to those with the right attitude of REJOICING.

Another attitude we are told to exhibit is *endurance* in tests situations. How we react or respond to test situations will help determine the type of results we get,  *a pass or a fail*  To endure means to trust patiently waiting on the Lord  in the face of challenges regardless of the pain or shame it may bring.

I pray closure to every lingering difficulty you may be going through right now in Jesus name.

Shalom