Test Your Faith

Today’s meditation is taken from 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups.” (MSG)

Paul was making an appeal to the Corinthian believers to examine themselves consistently to make sure that their faith in the Lord is firm. Note that these words of Paul were not to those outside the church, but to those who were believers inside the church.

There are many who claim to have faith in God, but this faith is not evident in the way they live. While there are those who are wandering away from the faith, there are others who appear to have faith in God, but have in reality forgotten what it is to remain in this faith. We are living in times when most of the prophecies in the bible pertaining to the last days are being fulfilled. The Lord Jesus promised us that just as He was taken up into the heavens, He will so come in like manner. Let us therefore be aware that the coming of the Lord Jesus is close at hand. Jesus left a warning when He said these words in Luke 18:8, Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (ESV) which means that there is a possibility that many will falter and lose out on their faith.

To have faith means to believe that there is a God who created us that He is mindful of all we do, and that He will reward each one according to their work when He comes. Faith is to have these basic foundations firmly established as we live our lives here on earth. It is sad that many profess they have this faith, but by their deeds they do not in any way reflect this faith in God.

As we study a couple of important incidents that happened beyond the Jordan, we will be able to learn a lot from the lives of two significant people who are mentioned in these incidents.

Rahab’s perception of God

We read in Joshua 2:10-11, “We heard how GOD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under a holy curse and destroyed. We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and GOD, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below.” (MSG)

These were the words of Rahab who lived in the city of Jericho. Rahab did not lead a good life, but this was the testimony she gave about God as one who is God of the heavens above, and the God of the earth below. The people of Jericho had heard about the wonders that God performed for the Israelites beyond the Jordan, and everyone in that city were filled with dread of the Israelites. However, Rahab who lived among them decided to put her faith in the God of the Israelites, instead of allowing fear to rule her heart.

Rahab’s appeal

Read the words of Rahab as found in Joshua 2:13, “Promise me that you will save my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families! Don't let us be killed!" (GNB)

Rahab put her faith in God, and this she revealed by her deeds. When the men of Israel came to spy on the land of Jericho, Rahab protected them. She believed that the God of the Israelites was able to save her, and therefore she was willing to risk her life when she took care of the spies.

We see that Rahab was sure that the city of Jericho would be destroyed by the Israelites, but she also believed that God was compassionate, and that He could keep her, and her family safe when the destruction came. If we think about Rahab’s life, she was a prostitute, and most assuredly her parents, siblings and family members may not have approved of it. We are not even sure if they were in talking terms with each other. Nonetheless, when Rahab understood who God really was, she also developed a burden for the welfare of her family. She could have asked that she alone be kept safe in the time of crisis, but she pleaded for her entire family to be kept safe.

There are so many who claim to have faith in the Lord, but sadly all that they want to give to God is just an hour on Sunday, and are content to do so. We must compare our faith with that of Rahab, and analyze ourselves to see if our faith is alive or dead. Does our faith motivate us to work as it did to Rahab? There are so many of us who are concerned only about ourselves, and we fail to be burdened for the members of our family who are yet to be saved. There are many who claim to have faith, but are unable to show love to others. If we have truly experienced the love of God, then we will be able to demonstrate love even to those who hate us. However, if we cannot forgive, forget, and love others the way God wants us to, our faith is certainly questionable.