Faith

Does God Test Those He Chose To Lead?


Of course, God tests His chosen! There is a mountain of Biblical evidence that God often uses hardship to try His chosen ones. Moreover, quite often, those tests resemble the trials and tribulation the devil place upon us.

So, aside from the hardships that come naturally on your Christian journey, there are also more than a few tricky situations that God uses to test your commitment and resiliency. Therefore, as you navigate this narrow path, it is of paramount importance that you understand that not every trial you face is designed to destroy you. The Bible says, ..” the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” (Hebrews 12:6).

For example, Job 1: 1-3 states, “There once was a man named Job, who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.”

Still yet, God allows Satan to visit terrible trials upon Job to test him. And in a short period, Job lost all his livestock. Then a desert wind blows down his house, killing all of his ten children. And when Job did not falter, Satan doubled down and afflicted him with painful sores all over his body. Unable to help her husband, Job’s wife urges him to curse God and die. However, Job stays true to his commitment to God.

And in the end, “the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” ( Job 42:10)…So he lived for another 140 years.

God always confound the wise to protect the faithful


Scripture has taught us that if we are faithful and true to God, He will deliver us from harm and danger. Hence, the reason why David, the Old Testament Patriarch, wrote in Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through a valley of death, I will fear no evil.

The story of the three Hebrew boys depicted in the book of Daniel is yet another example of God building a fence of protection around those who loved Him.

When King Nebuchadnezzar flexed his muscles and ordered three Hebrew boys thrown in a furnace-because, they refused to bow to him or worship his golden image. He thought they would serve as an example for others who disobeyed his orders.

But when the King walked by the furnace, he saw four men in the furnace walking around in the fire. Nebuchadnezzar was naturally confounded. But you needn’t be because you and I will never know what God will do to protect us; all you need to do is trust Him.

Don’t allow your affliction to touch your heart.


Psalm 41:3 New International Version (NIV)
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
    and restores them from their bed of illness.

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If you are a Christian, who is carrying a heavy load that God hasn’t seen fit to lighten or remove, don’t give in to bitterness, rebellion, or self-pity.

When your emotions well up, as they inevitably will, think about apostle Paul. He had an affliction that God never saw fit to remove. Be honest with God, he understands. As long as you keep your life open to him, your affliction will never touch your heart.

There is only one way to Heaven


Recently the FBI busted more than 40 American citizens, some well-known, in a college admissions cheating scheme.

According to news reports children of deep pocket parents, would bypass the standard admission process for entrance into top Ivy league schools, so long as their parents pay between US$250, 000 and $400,000. Some parents even paid as much as $6.5,000,000.

I scratched my head vigorously after reading the disturbing story. Then I started to imagine what I think would have happened if salvation was something money could buy. I saw all the rich people in heaven and all the poor people in hell. But thanks be to the God of the just as well as the unjust, Salvation is free because He sent His only Son to die as a ransom for our sins.

Jesus’ death and resurrection have made it possible so that nobody has to go to hell, but everybody can go to heaven

Folks, I am glad Jesus paid the ultimate price for my salvation. Because if I had to pay cash, I couldn’t afford it. And the way to heaven is not through some loopholes or back doors. It is through Jesus Christ.

Jesus closed all loopholes and back doors when He said the following:

John 10:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 I am at the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

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Further, He made it crystal clear that status and notoriety would not be a factor:

John 14:6 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 …, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

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