THE TEST OF FAITH 1 – Esesien Ita

Most people do periodic checks on their health. They check their Blood Pressure (BP), do some blood, urine, and stool tests to know the state of their body. Some also do X-ray, and some, scanning. This practice is good and commendable as it enables us know the state of our physical health, and correct on time whatever goes awry. Failure to carry out health checks, especially the BP, has, occasionally, resulted in preventable deaths.

In the same way the Bible recommends that we test ourselves spiritually.

            Examine yourselves to see whether you are in

 the faith; test yourselves.      2 Cor. 13. 4

It is this self examination that we refer to as the test of faith. Unlike most physical health tests which

must be done on us by another person, the test of faith can only be done by the individual on himself or herself. No one can answer questions of the heart for another. It is only the individual who knows the truth of their life who can speak that truth before God. What are the spiritual health tests?

1.      Proclamation of the Gospel of Christ

“That which was from the beginning which we have heard… this we proclaim to you. We proclaim to you the eternal life… We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard.”  1 John 1. 1 – 3

One test of faith is the love for the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. What inspires such proclamation is the fact that one has partaken of the faith. That was the experience of the apostles as recorded in our text above. Everyone who is born again will proclaim the Gospel, not necessarily as a licensed or an ordained preacher, or in the crusade fashion, but as one who belongs to Christ, simply telling those by you of Him. 

It is what happens the moment a child is born. Live children announce their arrival in the world with a cry. A woman who puts to bed becomes apprehensive if she does not hear the cry of the baby. She fears the child may have died. The cry assures her that her child is alive. It is the same with the child of God. Children of God do not keep quiet when it comes to talking about Christ. This is their cry, a la newborn babies. Be it at home, in the neighborhood, in school, at work or at play, children of God proclaim their faith without fear or shame. They may even create the opportunity to do so. 

We often encourage people to support Mission with their prayer or money or materials. We tell them these things can reach where they may not be able to go physically. That is true, but what we are saying here is the test that brings us one on one with another person to tell them of a loving God, and of the Saviour who died for them. That does not require we traverse land and sea. It requires that we share God’s love with the people we interact with daily. While we support the spread of the Gospel to distant lands with our prayer, money or materials, let us also tell those in ‘near lands’ of God’s love. It is a mark of life in Christ. Peace be with you!