What is the purpose of putting someone to the test? What can be expected from this? When it comes to man, tests are meant to find out if the person is capable of growing, whether it’s at work, to get a job, to pass to the next grade in school, to get accepted into college, etc.
All those who desire something better must be willing to undergo one or more tests to show their worth, their ability. Tests are used to evaluate us, and we can also use them to evaluate ourselves.
What about if the test comes from God Himself? What is the purpose of this? If God knows all things, then it’s presumable that it wouldn’t be necessary to be evaluated or tested by Him, since He already knows beforehand what the outcome will be. However, God puts us to the test, which is the Altar, so that we can assess our faith, know ourselves better, and therefore understand whether or not we can achieve something bigger.
Many complain about the results of their Christian life; however, they don’t consider that every time they are called to the Altar, which is the test, they’ve denied the faith, been negligent, fallen short, proceeded incorrectly and, as a result of failing on the Altar, their lives have also been filled with failures.
When Abraham was put to the test, he simply said, “Here I am!” He did not run away, deny, question or ask others for advice, because when we are tested we can not turn to anyone, since each test is individual. We cannot cheat; we have to show ourselves whether or not we’re able to put God above everything.
This is what God wanted to show through Abraham: whoever has Him as their exceedingly great reward will have no problem in placing whatever is asked for on the Altar. And when we do this, we have the pleasure, the privilege of hearing the same voice that Abraham heard:
By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son – blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore… Genesis 22.16-17
This promise to bless is only for those who are approved!
So, are you going to pass the test? Only the Altar will tell!!!