II Corinthians 13:6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. (NIV)
It was a different type of test and the students were excited; until they looked at the questions and heard the requirements.
I gave my high school students what I never recall receiving in high school-a take home test. Only in college did I obtain this type of test and it was in an elective class. My students soon discovered as I did that they preferred the regular type of test.
Tests are never enjoyable and can be quite frustrating, especially for those who do not have good test taking skills. I remember a particular college professor whom we nicknamed the “laundry list” professor. Any material preceded by numbers or in list form was subject to selection for pop test questions, and unit tests were pure memorization of those combined questions.
A minimum of one week study was required to do well on his tests. I recorded questions and answers on note cards and carried them everywhere I went-except to bed. (I never mastered learning by osmosis.) Fortunately I was blessed with good memorization skills but not all were. And they received poor grades.
Though I passed the tests, I quickly forgot all material I had memorized since all the information made it no farther than my short term memory. This led me to ponder how beneficial these types of tests really were. They required no thinking; just rote memorization.
Passing these tests had a large bearing on my course grade. Passing the test Paul references has eternal consequences. He suggests we should examine ourselves to see if our faith is genuine. He was confident he had passed this test.
Life’s greatest test contains only one question: “What must I do for God to accept me?” He is not after our good works as admirable as they may be. Nor is he concerned with observance of particular practices; though they may be gratifying as well. Only by faith do we pass the test.
The correct answer is “I believe Jesus Christ was God’s Son who died for my sins and I ask his forgiveness.” Nothing more, nothing less. How are you attempting to pass the salvation test?
Prayer: Lord, enable us to release all our self initiated means to pass Your test and trust You simply by faith. www.lovelinesfromgod.com and www.morningliteministry.com.