CAN YOU PASS GOD’S TESTS
By: C. Mason Davis
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 17:9–10: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
The Bible states that God tests people to prove the strength of their faith and character, not because He is unaware of it, but most likely because we are unaware of it. These tests are meant to refine and strengthen believers, helping them to grow more mature and rely more on God than on their own strength. His tests are not for him but are for us. Just like taking tests in school as kids, those tests were not only to show what we knew, but what we didn’t know and what we have to work harder on to learn.
Tests serve to prove to us that our faith is real and to demonstrate to the world that we are truly His children. They are designed to strengthen character and develop perseverance, which leads to spiritual maturity. God tests us to show us what is in our hearts, whether or not we will keep His commandments, and if we love Him. God wants to prove that we depend on Him rather than our own strength to overcome challenges.
There are several examples of such tests listed in the Bible, such as: Abraham. God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham's obedience demonstrated his faith and proved he was willing to do anything God asked.
God stopped Abraham just before he sacrificed his son Isaac. At the last moment, an angel of the Lord called out from heaven to prevent Abraham from harming Isaac, and then provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead; as read in Genesis 22:1-18.
Another example is when God led the Israelites through the desert for 40 years to humble them, test them, and show them what was in their hearts, to see if they would keep His commandments, as evidenced in: Exodus 16:4: “Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.'”
In the Garden of Eden, the forbidden tree represented a test of their obedience and trust in God's provision. The serpent tempted Eve by twisting God's command to not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but instead promising that eating the fruit would make her "like God." With the use of free will, Eve, and then Adam, exercised their free will to give in to the temptation, choosing to believe the serpent's words over God's. Their choice led to humanity's "fall." Their disobedience had immediate and devastating consequences, including expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the introduction of sin, suffering, and death into the world; as written in Genesis 3:1-6.
The Bible teaches that God's tests have several important goals.
Tests expose what is truly in our hearts—our trust, weaknesses, and allegiance. To foster growth and dependence we face challenges that are too great to overcome alone which encourages a deeper dependence on God.
What's the difference between God’s tests and tempting according to the Bible? The key difference lies in their source, purpose, and outcome. God’s tests are to build and strengthen faith for a good purpose, while temptation originates from one's own desires and Satan, with the purpose of causing a person to fall into sin. God's tests are situational which God allows or orchestrates in a person's life. He may use circumstances or difficult situations to prove the genuineness of faith. God also has control over what tests a person faces.
The Bible makes a distinction between God testing people and Satan tempting them. God tests us as His purpose is to prove our faith and strengthen us. But Satan also tempts us. He tempts us with the intention of leading us away from God. During these times of temptation, Satan also taunts us in an attempt to wear us down until he get us to turn away from our faith. We live in such a competitive society that most of us try to fend off the attacks of Satan without God’s help or guidance. We hate losing. Even more, we hate asking for help. This is why Satan has been so successful at turning our attention away from God because it’s more important to a lot of us to choose the shiny baubles and riches over faith. God could easily step in and fight our battles for us, but if He did that, we’d be apt to learn nothing and repeat our mistakes and sins over and over. That’s why He created us to have free will to do and think the way we choose, which is how God knows if our hearts and devotion are part of our faith and not just performance. Some of the examples from the scriptures about temptation and the use of free will are:
The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness as written in Matthew 4:1-10 is a great example. The temptation was that after 40 days of fasting, Jesus was tempted by Satan to use his power for personal gain such as turning stones into bread and seeking other worldly gains. Jesus used his free will to resist the temptations by quoting Scripture and submitting to God's will. By choosing not to give in, Jesus demonstrated his perfect obedience to God. His successful resistance proved his ability to remain sinless and serve as the perfect sacrifice for humanity. Temptation comes from a person's own evil desires, as explicitly stated in James 1:13-14; “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” It can also come from the devil, who seeks to destroy faith.
Another example of Satan’s temptation was Joseph with Potiphar's wife as explained in Genesis 39:1-8. The temptation was that while serving in Potiphar's house, Joseph was repeatedly tempted by Potiphar's wife to lie with her. Joseph used his free will to consistently resist her advances. He fled from the room, leaving his cloak behind, rather than give in to the temptation. It came to pass that Joseph was falsely accused and imprisoned, but his righteousness and commitment to God were ultimately rewarded. He was later elevated to a position of power in Egypt.
In the Book of Job, God allows Satan to afflict Job with immense suffering. While Satan delivered the trials, God was in control of the situation to test Job's faithfulness and prove that his righteousness was not conditional on His blessings.
God allowed Satan to test Job's faith by stripping him of his wealth, his children, and his health. Job's friends and even his wife urged him to curse God and give up his faith. Job, however, used his free will to remain faithful, famously declaring in Job 13:15; “ Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” By enduring the trial without turning against God, Job demonstrated his unwavering faith. God eventually restored Job's health and gave him twice the wealth he had before.
Now, how do we distinguish between testing and temptation.
Ask yourself about the motivation. Is the challenge intended to draw you closer to God or to lure you away from him and into sin? Start by examing your desires. Are you facing an external trial that requires you to lean on God (testing), or are you being enticed by your own sinful desires (temptation). Know the difference so you’ll know when to seek discernment. By consistently studying the Bible and praying for wisdom, a person can learn to recognize God's voice and purposes. God brings clarity and guidance, while temptation often brings confusion and anxiety.
The purpose to God's testing has a constructive purpose—to purify, strengthen, and mature the believer. The testing of faith produces perseverance and spiritual growth, which helps a person to become complete, "lacking in nothing." James 1:2–4: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Temptation's purpose is destructive. It aims to lure a person into disobedience and sin, with the goal of causing them to fall away from God. The outcome of yielding to temptation is described as bringing forth death. James 1:15 says: “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
The outcome of enduring God's tests leads to a deeper dependence on God. The person who remains steadfast through a test will receive the "crown of life." James 1:12: states: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." Giving in to temptation leads to sin and separation from God. When a person falls, it can produce regret and shame. However, the Bible also assures believers that with temptation, God will provide a "way of escape" so they can endure it as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:13 states: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
So, what is the relationship between tests, temptations, and free will? Free will is the central factor that connects tests and temptations in the biblical narrative. Both experiences require an individual to make a choice—either to obey and trust God or to give in to a destructive impulse.
In a test from God, a person's free will is challenged to choose faith and obedience, even when circumstances are difficult. The purpose is to produce maturity and spiritual refinement, not to cause failure. It is challenged to gauge a persons ability and willingness to learn. Tests require a choice. During Abraham's test, his faith was proven by his willingness to sacrifice his son, but his choice from free will was freely made. The moment of decision is where free will is exercised. Tests also strengthen one’s resolve. The Bible often compares trials to fire refining gold. By choosing to persevere through hardship, a person's faith is strengthened. This process requires a repeated exercise of free will in God's favor. But tests reveal the true character of a person. While God already knows a person's heart, tests reveal it to the individual themselves and to others. Your choice under pressure shows whether your loyalty is to God or your own desires.
When it comes to Temptation, using free will to resist
temptations are a direct challenge to a person's free will. Unlike tests, which come from God for a good purpose, temptations come from one's own evil desires or from the devil, with the intent to deceive and destroy. Being tempted is not sin. The Bible clarifies that being tempted is not a sin; the sin occurs when a person, using their free will, gives in to the temptation. You must remember that resisting is a choice. The crucial role of free will is seen in the choice to resist the temptation. When tempted, a person can either choose to give in to their sinful desires or choose to flee and rely on God for strength. While
temptation is meant to destroy, God's faithfulness ensures that a person is never tempted beyond what they can bear. He always provides a "way of escape," but a person's free will must choose to take it.
There are consequences of free will. In both scenarios, free will determines the outcome, but the ultimate result points to a person's true loyalties. One’s response determines the outcome. How a person responds to a test or temptation is what defines their character and spiritual trajectory. The response is not predetermined but is a conscious choice.
There is accountability for choices made. Free will makes humans responsible for their actions. It allows for a genuine relationship with God built on freely given love and obedience, not on pre-programmed obligations.
Are there biblical figures who failed God's tests, and what can we learn? Yes, the Bible contains many accounts of figures who failed God's tests. These failures, however, are not just cautionary tales; they also teach important lessons about human nature, God's character, and the path to redemption.
What we can learn from biblical failures? We learn that failure is not final! Many of these figures, like Peter and the Israelites (who were eventually led by Joshua into the Promised Land), were restored after their failures. But when failure is an outcome, humility is essential. Figures like Saul and Peter stumbled when they relied on their own abilities rather than humbly submitting to God's will. God's plans cannot be thwarted. Despite the failures of His people, God's larger purposes always prevail. He continues to work through imperfect, flawed individuals to accomplish His will. Jesus himself is the ultimate example of enduring trials and suffering to produce character and hope. Jesus's ultimate perseverance through the ultimate trial led to the salvation of humanity. As Hebrews 12:2 notes; “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” His suffering was not without purpose, and it produced the ultimate hope for all who follow Him. Trials expose the areas where a person's faith is weak, where it’s strong, and forces a deeper reliance on God.
Humility is the opposite of pride and is often cultivated when trials, tribulations, tests, temptations, and erroneous choices strip away self-reliance and expose one's weakness.
Suffering can soften a person's heart and produce a profound sense of compassion for others who are hurting. Peter writes that trials prove the genuineness of faith, which is more valuable than gold.
I ask that we all keep this message in the front of our minds to use in reflection as we ask ourselves if we are prepared to take God’s tests and actually pass them. It is this I pray for all of us today. Amen!
