Articles
TEST YOURSELVES!
Many of you know that for the past five years I have been going through a study of the Bible
using the Truth for Today Commentary series. There is a test required at the end of each study
section and then a final exam over the entire book. Before each test, a screen prompt reminds
you to put away all notes, commentary, Bible, or anything else that might be advantageous in
taking the test. I must admit that at times it has been somewhat tempting to take a quick peek at
the notes to help me with a few of the test questions (but I haven’t!). No one would have to know
that I “cheated”, but me. Certainly the online site would never know and unless someone was
just looking over my shoulder during the testing time, no one would ever know!
The apostle Paul challenged the Christians in Corinth to “test yourselves to see if you are in
the faith; examine yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5)! This testing of ourselves is somewhat similar to the
testing I do with my Bible studies. It is up to me to be honest with myself when I take the test. In
the same way, when we “examine ourselves”, we must be honest with ourselves as to whether we
really are “in the faith”. Are we really living to the standard that Christ set down for us? In fact,
that is the challenge Paul set down as he concluded his statement regarding examination: “Or do
you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you —unless indeed you fail the
test?”
But there is a difference between an online test and self-examination of our faith. We may
be successful at covering up our shortcomings, but as hard as we may try, we cannot hide our
shortcomings from others and even more important, from the Lord. Whether we are willing to
accept the fact or not, our lives are open books to the world around us. They see through the
façade that many of us have used to mask our shortcomings. And worse, because we are
comfortable fooling ourselves, we may, through our own hypocrisy, be guilty of turning away
souls from Jesus (Matthew 23:13).
God sees and God knows our lives. Where men may look at our façade and be fooled, God
looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7) and sees far beyond the make-up. Should not our prayer always
be, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if
there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24)? God
does know our heart, whether we accept that fact or not. Maybe the better prayer would be for
God to help us know our heart (test ourselves!) to see if we are truly walking in the commands of
the Lord (walking in faith!)! ~Paul Mowrer
